Muscle weakness
Your muscles may feel weak when you have pain, but you should still have a normal range of movement. Brief periods of muscle weakness may be common after a strenuous workout. This type of muscle weakness usually means you have overexerted, and it is not a cause for concern as long as you can move and function normally in your daily activities.
True muscle weakness that occurs in one area of your body with a loss of function, even for a few minutes, is a medical emergency. It may be caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Causes of decreased blood flow to the brain include:
- A transient ischemic attack (TIA) which results in a brief and temporary loss of function.
- A stroke which results in a progressive and permanent loss of function. Call911or other emergency services immediately if you suspect a stroke is occurring.
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: August 31, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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