MedlinePlus: Paralysis

MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You

Other Health Topics:

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
XYZ
List of All Topics

Photograph of a senior man in physical therapy

Related Topics
Go Local
- Services and providers for Paralysis in the U.S.
- Select from map
National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Paralysis is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Paralysis

Also called: Hemiplegia, Palsy, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia

Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.

Most paralysis is due to strokes or injuries such as spinal cord injury or a broken neck. Other causes of paralysis include

Nerve diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
Bell's palsy, which affects muscles in the face

Polio used to be a cause of paralysis, but polio no longer occurs in the U.S.

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
No links available	Specific Conditions Related Issues	No links available
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Genetics Journal Articles	Medical Encyclopedia Directories Organizations	Children

Specific Conditions
- Alternating Hemiplegia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Familial Periodic Paralyses(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Locked-In Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Todd's Paralysis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Related Issues
- Bedsores (Pressure Sores)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Spasticity and Paralysis(National Stroke Association)
- Tick Paralysis(American Lyme Disease Foundation)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemiplegia(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Paralysis(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Paraplegia(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Quadriplegia(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Cord Injuries(National Institutes of Health)
Genetics
- Genetics Home Reference: Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Hypokalemic periodic paralysis(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Spastic paraplegia type 2(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Spastic paraplegia type 3A(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Spastic paraplegia type 4(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Spastic paraplegia type 7(National Library of Medicine)
- Genetics Home Reference: Troyer syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Return to top
Medical Encyclopedia
- Paralysis
Return to top
Directories
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
Return to top
Organizations
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  Also available in Spanish
Return to top
Children
- Hemiplegia in Children(Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association)
- Hemiplegia: Daily Living(Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association)
Return to top

Other Health Topics:

Related Topics

Go Local

National Institutes of Health