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Bilateral weakness affects both sides of the body, usually in both arms or legs, and can be caused by injury or neurological disorders. Perceived bilateral weakness is a psychological effect. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, and diagnosis involves physical exams and tests.
Bilateral weakness refers to weakness that occurs on both sides of the body, usually in both arms or both legs. It can also be presented as weakness affecting all extremities i.e. both arms and both legs at the same time. This is a relatively rare condition, as most neurological disorders typically begin with weakness on one side or the other of the body, with the body split vertically rather than horizontally.
The most common cause of bilateral weakness is injury. This can occur both in the spinal cord, in the muscles of both arms or both legs, and in the spine itself. Often, this is temporary and once the injuries have had time to heal, the muscles eventually regain full strength. Sometimes this requires physical therapy to rebuild muscle mass, especially in cases of long recovery periods when the muscles have not been used.
Although relatively rare, sudden bilateral weakness can be a sign of a serious neurological disorder. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease are all examples of diseases in which weakness is a primary symptom. Clinical weakness is a term used to describe muscles that lack strength and are unable to perform tasks that would be easy for the average person.
There is a condition known as perceived bilateral weakness, which means that the muscles feel weak and fatigued even when there is nothing wrong with them. It is often a psychological effect that can occur during periods of severe stress or in those suffering from certain anxiety disorders, primarily hypochondriasis. The difference between actual and perceived weakness is that in the perceived cases, the muscles have not lost strength or tone.
Treatment for severe bilateral weakness will depend on the underlying cause. Tests will likely be done to rule out serious conditions, and the patient may be told to rest their muscles in the meantime. It is possible for some temporary conditions to cause weakness, including dehydration, fatigue, and some viruses.
During a physical exam, patients may be asked to perform a series of exercises to determine whether clinical weakness is indeed present. This would be indicated by the inability to perform the exercises, despite the effort. If clinical weakness is diagnosed, further tests may be done to find the cause.
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