Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Muscle weakness can make everyday activities and movements of your arms, legs, and body challenging.
If it is severe, muscle weakness can interfere with your ability to move, sit up, stand, walk, and maintain your balance.
This article lists 47 possible causes of muscle weakness, how an underlying cause is diagnosed, and treatments.
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What Causes Muscle Weakness?
Muscle weakness has a variety of different causes, including autoimmune disorders, neuromuscular conditions, electrolyte imbalances, infections, injuries, and other systemic, inflammatory conditions.
Autoimmune, Neuromuscular, and Neurological Diseases
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Electrolyte Imbalances
Certainelectrolyte imbalancescan also result in muscle weakness, including:
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Thyroid Disorders
Conditions that affect the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone production can also lead to muscle weakness, including:
Understanding Muscle Pain and Weakness in Thyroid Disease
Viruses and Infections
Certain viral infections can result in muscle weakness, including:
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Secondary to Other Issues
Muscle weakness can also develop due to other issues, such as:
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Secondary to Long-Term Use of Some Drugs
Muscle weakness can be a side effect of taking certain types of medications.These include:
Rare Causes of Muscle Weakness
Certain rare conditions can cause muscle weakness:
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Diagnosing Causes of Muscle Weakness
Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, medications you are taking, and any unusual symptoms you are experiencing.
Diagnostic tests that may be ordered to help determine a diagnosis include:
What Medical Conditions Can Cause Muscle Wasting?
Treating Muscle Weakness
Only a licensed healthcare provider can determine proper treatment depending on the cause of your muscle weakness. Treatment options include medication, dietary changes, physical and occupational therapy, and in certain cases, surgery.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapysessions with a licensed physical therapist can help strengthen weak muscles, restore muscle imbalances, and improve your mobility and ability to complete daily activities that might become challenging due to muscle weakness, such as standing up from a chair, walking, and going up and down stairs.
Patients with autoimmune, neuromuscular, and neurological diseases can benefit most from physical therapy, as well as people who suffer from muscle weakness due to a sedentary lifestyle, immobilization, or lack of activity.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapyis similar to physical therapy, but focuses more on strengthening the muscles of the hands, wrists, and upper body to improve coordination, fine motor movements, dexterity, and activities of daily living. Occupational therapy can help you regain the strength in your hands and arms to be able to function day to day with fewer limitations.
Medication
Medication may be prescribed to help treat the underlying cause of your muscle weakness. Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications can help alleviate nerve irritation, which can lead to muscle weakness, while thyroid medications can be used to manage thyroid disorders.
Steroids andbiologicsare also often prescribed to decrease inflammation in autoimmune conditions that can cause muscle weakness. If an infection is present, antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal medications will be prescribed to help your body recover.
Dietary Changes
Improving your diet and taking supplements can help improve electrolyte imbalances and nutritional deficiencies that can cause muscle weakness. Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, you may have to increase your intake of iron, magnesium, or potassium.
Surgical Intervention
Surgery will involve removing tissue that is causing nerve compression. If hyperthyroidism is unresponsive to other treatments, surgery may also be performed to remove some or all of the thyroid gland.
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Summary
There are many potential causes of muscle weakness, including aging, exercise, neurological and autoimmune conditions, and viral infections. Once an underlying cause is diagnosed, treatment options may include physical and occupational therapy, dietary changes, medications, surgery, and use of assistive devices such as a walker or cane if the weakness is severe.
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