Weakness
Weakness is a common symptom and a commonly elicited sign on neurological examination. Weakness arises from lesions at every level of the nervous system. This produces:
As with all neurology, the time course of the development of the weakness, which comes from the history, is most important in understanding its aetiology. Sometimes patients complain of weakness when they mean something else, for example fatigue. Similarly, other abnormalities can be mistaken for weakness on examination (Box 1).
Type and distribution of weakness (Table 1)
Upper motor neurone weakness
Lesions to the brain, brain stem and spinal cord produce upper motor neurone signs:
Table 1 Types of weakness and possible causes
| Weakness | Possible causes |
|---|---|
| Hemiplegia | |
| Brain stem syndrome |
