Muscle Weakness

One experiences muscle weakness when the nerves that stimulate body muscle movement does not work properly. This immobility of muscles does not allow them to contract or relax. Muscle weakness can be identified through proper diagnosis of strength of the body. Some types of muscle weakness include muscle fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome and proximal muscle weakness. There are other kinds of muscle weakness including perceived, central and peripheral muscle weakness. When a person needs to put excess effort on a certain task, he or she feels a sensation in the body muscle. This is known as perceived weakness of muscles. Central muscle weakness refers to complete body muscle weakness, whereas peripheral weakness refers to muscle weakness of a specific part of the body.

Causes
Muscle weakness occurs generally due to trauma, sleep disorders, depression, neuromuscular diseases and heart as well as kidney diseases. In case of adults, certain medications, neurological disorders, muscle pain, muscle cramps, stroke, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and, excessive consumption of alcohol may cause muscle weakness. Some other factors that cause it include:

• Excess amount of exercise
• Fluid loss
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Nervous system disorder
• Muscular dystrophy
• metabolic diseases
• thyroid diseases
• Nerve disorders
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Cerebral palsy
• Diarrhea
• Anemia
• Hyperthyroidism Polymyositis or inflammation of muscles
• Malnutrition

Signs and Symptoms
Muscle weakness refers to the muscle's inability to perform an expected task or difficulty with movements, like rising from a chair or inability to walk. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Numbness in muscles
• Inability to support one's arms and legs
• Inability to do physical activities
• Drowsiness
• Prolonged tiredness
• Sleepiness
• Malaise
• Lethargy
• Excessive yawning

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of muscle weakness generally includes blood test, electromyography, MRI, Ct scan after a thorough evaluation of its symptoms.

Treatment
Muscle weakness is not a severe disorder; one can gain relief from weakness of muscles. The following measures can help in treating it.

Exercise
Exercising on a regular basis helps in increasing endurance and appetite. Exercises, like aerobics, light stretching, meditation and yoga play a vital role in keeping one fit and healthy to fight against all kinds of ailments. However, before doing any exercise, it is good to take advice of a physiotherapist.

Take Rest
Overexertion may cause muscle weakness. Therefore, in between your daily activities, whenever you feel fatigued, take rest. Sleep at least for seven hours daily. Take rest after heavy meals, but keep a time gap between the meals and the sleep.

Drink Enough Water
Drinking ample amounts of water on a regular basis keeps you hydrated. It also aids digestion and helps maintain digestive health.

Reduce Stress
Relaxation techniques like visualization and meditation can reduce stress, which is often a cause of muscle weakness.

Proper Nutrition
A balanced diet plays an important role in reducing muscle weakness. It is best to avoid oily and fried stuff. Besides, carbohydrate-rich foods like fruits, veggies, cereals and grains play a vital role in keeping you fit and healthy.

The treatment of muscle weakness depends on its severity and type. Some physical therapies like manual therapy, mobilization and muscle strengthening exercises prevent muscle contraction and help in retaining the physical strength of body muscles.