Dr Karen Chung
Consultant Neurologist
Specialist expertise: Multiple Sclerosis, Headache, Neurology.
There are several ways we feel weakness in our bodies. Here are some of the main causes of weakness:
The commonest cause of weakness is age. As we inevitably get a little older it becomes progressively more difficult to retain muscle bulk and strength. Regular exercise can slow down this process but even a short period of inactivity, for just a few short weeks, especially when we are in our 6th, 7th and 8th decades makes it progressively harder to retrieve the situation. Loss of muscle bulk and function is the root cause of weakness.
Nerves may be damaged by two main processes:
The categories are separated into direct trauma to the muscles where a laceration (significant cut) or tearing through the muscle can lead to scarring and permanent damage. Again there are medical problems that specifically affect the muscles including myositis, where the muscles become inflamed, or specific myopathies (weak muscles) of which there are several types that are diseases specifically reducing muscle function.
When we experience pain, two areas of the brain receive the pain message. The front of the brain is the processing area. This part thinks about the pain, what its cause may be, why it is persisting and what can be done about it. The subconscious part of the brain also receives a pain message and it will then send a message back to the muscle to do either one of two things:
This is when simply not using any muscle or muscle group results in the muscle becoming smaller and therefore weaker. Naturally, any medical condition or trauma that imposes immobility for a period of time, will cause a certain degree of disuse atrophy as a consequence. It is also true that if we live sedentary lifestyles and do not perform any exercise then inevitably our muscles become smaller and therefore we will become generally weaker and more vulnerable to mechanical pain.
Currently selected day
Available consultations
We boast a truly integrated team of orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, podiatric surgeons, rheumatology specialists, paid medicine consultants and hand therapy specialists. All of these services work together in one place, enabling us to give patients the best care possible.