What is muscle weakness?
Muscle weakness or general overall weakness can make it hard to perform everyday activities, such as cooking, cleaning or general moving about. While weakness is more common in the older population, it can happen to anyone, especially after things like trauma, sickness or chronic illnesses. Physical therapy can help you to develop strength both safely and effectively.
Symptoms of Weakness
Weakness can present as a wide variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Some patients have weakness in only a few parts of their body, while others experience whole body weakness. Some of the most common symptoms of muscle weakness include:
- Difficulty lifting objects
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Pain with movement
- Fatigue
Causes of Weakness
Muscle weakness can be caused by several preexisting health conditions. In some cases, muscle weakness can be attributed to a tough workout or exhaustion but is rare to require physical therapy to address this type of weakness. Common causes for muscle weakness can include:
- Injury or illness associated with the brain or nervous system
- Stroke or spinal cord injury
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy
- ALS
- Prolonged bed rest
How Can Physical Therapy Help My Weakness?
At your initial appointment, your physical therapist will perform a comprehensive evaluation, which may include things like reviewing medical history, current symptoms, a physical examination, and imaging scans if needed. From there, they will create a customized program to address your weakness, which may consist of gentle, low-impact exercises that target the affected muscle(s), gradually increasing intensity as you improve. This can include things like:
- Strengthening exercises
- Flexibility exercises
- Endurance exercises
- Balance exercises
- Education for safe physical activities and home modifications
If you or someone you know is experiencing muscle weakness, schedule online with one of our physical therapists or call us at 515.875.9706.