Hemiplegia

What is Hemiplegia?

Hemiplegia is a condition characterized by paralysis on one side of the body due to brain or spinal cord injury. This condition affects muscle movement and control on the affected side, leading to muscle stiffness. Hemiplegia can be temporary or permanent, often resulting from severe medical conditions like strokes or spinal cord injuries. Treatment varies based on the underlying causes.

Discover more about hemiplegia, its causes, treatments, and how individuals manage the condition.

Quadriplegia

What is Quadriplegia?

Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is a type of paralysis that affects a person from the neck down, impairing the ability to move muscles and some automatic bodily functions. It is often a symptom of other conditions but can also occur independently. Quadriplegia is most commonly caused by traumatic spinal cord injuries, accounting for about 60% of such cases.

Quadriplegia can be:

  • Incomplete: Some nerve signals still get through, allowing partial movement, sensation, or control of automatic functions.
  • Complete: No nerve signals get through, resulting in total loss of muscle control, sensation, and brain-regulated automatic functions.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is a form of paralysis that significantly reduces function below the injury level, affecting the lower body, including the trunk, legs, and pelvic region. Individuals with paraplegia typically have healthy legs but are unable to use them due to damage in the brain or spinal cord that prevents signal transmission.

Causes

Paraplegia often results from spinal cord injuries, particularly in the upper (thoracic), lower back (lumbar), or tailbone (sacral) regions. These injuries can block the transmission of signals between the brain and lower body, leading to paralysis. The primary causes include:

  • Traumatic injuries: Sudden impacts, often from accidents, causing spinal cord damage.
  • Non-traumatic causes: Diseases, genetic anomalies, and chronic conditions such as tumors, neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, cerebral palsy), autoimmune conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis), and oxygen deprivation.

Monoplegia

Monoplegia is a condition where paralysis affects only one limb. While various medical conditions can cause monoplegia, it is most commonly associated with cerebral palsy. Typically, it affects an arm, but there are instances where a leg is impacted, or in rare cases, paralysis is confined to a single muscle. Despite the limitations, most individuals with monoplegia can manage their daily activities by adapting to their symptoms.

Symptoms and Progression

  • Initial weakness in the affected limb
  • Progressive intensification leading to partial or complete paralysis
  • Pain around the affected limb
  • Loss of muscle control and stiffness
  • Possible curling of fingers or toes on the affected limb