Paresis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Paruresis.
This article is about the physical malady. For the mental disorder, see general paresis of the insane.
Paresis is a condition typified by a weakness of voluntary movement, or partial loss of voluntary movement or by impaired movement. When used without qualifiers, it usually refers to the limbs, but it can also be used to describe the muscles of the eyes (ophthalmoparesis), the stomach (gastroparesis), and also the vocal cords (Vocal cord paresis). Neurologists use the term paresis to describe weakness, and plegia to describe paralysis in which all voluntary movement is lost. The term paresis comes from the Ancient Greek: πάρεσις "letting go" or "paralysis" from παρίημι "to let go, to let fall".
Types[edit]
Limbs[edit]
- Monoparesis — One leg or one arm
- Paraparesis — Both legs
- Hemiparesis — One arm and one leg on either side of the body
- Tetraparesis/Quadriparesis — All four limbs
These terms frequently refer to the impairment of motion in multiple sclerosis.[1]
Other[edit]
- Gastroparesis – impaired stomach emptying
- A form of ophthalmoplegia
- Spastic paresis – exaggerated tendon reflexes and muscle hypertonia[2]
- In the past, the term was most commonly used to refer to "general paresis", which was a symptom of untreated syphilis.[1] However, due to improvements in treatment of syphilis, it is now rarely used in this context.
See also[edit]
- Asthenia
- Ataxia
- Atony
- Catatonia
- Debility
- Fatigue (physical)
- Facial nerve paralysis
- Hypotonia
- Malaise
- Muscle weakness
References[edit]
- ^ a b MedlinePlus Encyclopedia 000748
- ^ Young, Robert (2000). "Chapter 15: Spastic Paresis". In Burks, Jack. Multiple Sclerosis - Diagnosis, Medical Management and Rehabilitation. Demos Medical Publishing, Inc. p. 299. ISBN 1-888799-35-8.
