Paresis

Paresis is a condition where the muscles in an area of the body become weaker and challenging to move voluntarily. Although paresis affects our muscles, it usually occurs due to nerve damage. Paresis is one of the upper motor neuron syndrome symptoms, which is developed due to a graded weakness of movement that differs from the complete loss of muscle activity caused by paralysis (eg, plegia). It is usually developed by various diseases and injuries that lead to motor function deficits.

The most commonly seen types of paresis are: (i) Monoparesis: Weakness is just in one extremity, like an arm or leg; (ii) Diparesis: Weakness is affected on both sides of the body, such as both legs or both sides of the face; (iii) Paraparesis: Weakness in both legs and sometimes a portion of the trunk; (iv) Hemiparesis: Weakness affecting both the arm and the leg on one side of the body; (v) Double Hemiparesis: Both arms and legs are weak, with one side of the body being more affected than the other; (vi) Triparesis: Weakness impacting three of the four extremities of the body (e.g., both legs and one arm); (vii) Quadriparesis: Also known as tetraparesis, this refers to weakness in all four extremities of the body; (viii) Pentaparesis: All four limbs and the head or neck are affected by weakness. Causes of paresis are stroke, injuries to the spinal cord, seizure, and cerebral palsy. Most of the causes leading to muscle weakness (paresis) occur in the brain or spinal region. [Md. Mohasin]