Atony is a condition where muscles lose their ability to expand and retract normally, causing weakness and loss of movement. It can be caused by trauma, infections, and diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and anorexia nervosa. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Also known as atony, atony is a condition in which a muscle or group of muscles within the body has lost the ability to expand and retract in a normal way. In extreme situations, muscles can show a complete loss of strength or movement of any kind. A number of different health problems involve this loss of normal muscle tension, including disorders such as gastrointestinal atony, uterine atony and atonic seizures.
Some forms occur when there has been some kind of trauma to the body. For example, a woman may experience uterine atony as a result of childbirth. In this situation, the myometrium does not contract normally once the placenta has been delivered. When a C-section is needed, the trauma to the core area of the body can also cause the muscles in and around the uterus to stop working properly for a period of time. In both situations, an unusual amount of bleeding may also occur due to the atony.
A phenomenon known as gastrointestinal atony can occur after surgery. In this scenario, the muscles in the abdominal area cannot support the natural function of the intestines. The end result is that food doesn’t pass through the digestive tract as well as it should. Depending on the severity of the muscle inactivity, it may be necessary to provide the patient with nutrients via intravenous feeding until the muscles in the area begin to recover from the effects of the surgery. Often, this condition is temporary and once the trauma has passed, the muscle groups in the area start working properly again.
Other underlying causes are commonly identified. Viral diseases and various types of infections, especially those that impair immune system function, can cause muscle weakness and unresponsiveness. Illnesses such as diabetes can sometimes lead to this condition. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and even psychological disorders such as anorexia nervosa can be the cause of atony.
Often, the lack of muscle tension is accompanied by a sense of muscle weakness. Response to any type of stimulation is minimal at best, until the root cause of the condition is identified and treated. Because there are so many different causes for the condition beyond the obvious trauma, doctors sometimes have to conduct extensive tests before a diagnosis can be arrived at and some type of treatment implemented.
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