STUDY - Technical - New Dacian's Medicine
Muscle
flaccidity (hypotonicity) (Classical / Allopathic Medicine)
Flaccid muscles
(muscle hypotonicity) are profoundly weak and soft, with
decreased resistance to movement, increased mobility, and
greater than normal range of motion. The result of disrupted
muscle innervation and flaccidity can be localized to a limb
or muscle group or generalized over the entire body. Its onset
may be acute, as in trauma, or chronic, as in neurologic
disease.
ALERT:
If the patient's muscle flaccidity results from trauma:
- make sure that his cervical spine is stabilized
- quickly determine his respiratory status, and institute emergency measures, if necessary.
If the patient's condition permits, perform a focused assessment.
If the patient's muscle flaccidity results from trauma:
- make sure that his cervical spine is stabilized
- quickly determine his respiratory status, and institute emergency measures, if necessary.
If the patient's condition permits, perform a focused assessment.
HISTORY:
Ask the patient about the onset and duration of muscle flaccidity and precipitating factors.
Ask the patient about associated signs and symptoms, notably weakness, other muscle changes, and sensory loss or paresthesia.
Review the patient's medical history, noting especially neurologic or viral events.
Ask the patient about the onset and duration of muscle flaccidity and precipitating factors.
Ask the patient about associated signs and symptoms, notably weakness, other muscle changes, and sensory loss or paresthesia.
Review the patient's medical history, noting especially neurologic or viral events.
PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT:
Examine the affected muscles for atrophy, which indicates a chronic problem.
Test muscle strength, and check deep tendon reflexes in all limbs.
Perform a complete neurologic assessment.
Examine the affected muscles for atrophy, which indicates a chronic problem.
Test muscle strength, and check deep tendon reflexes in all limbs.
Perform a complete neurologic assessment.
SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
Reposition a patient with generalized flaccidity every 2 hours to protect his skin integrity. Treat isolated flaccidity by supporting the affected limb in a sling or with a splint.
Reposition a patient with generalized flaccidity every 2 hours to protect his skin integrity. Treat isolated flaccidity by supporting the affected limb in a sling or with a splint.
PEDIATRIC
POINTERS:
An infant or young child with generalized flaccidity may lie in a froglike position, with his hips and knees abducted.
Pediatric causes of muscle flaccidity include myelomeningocele, Lowe's disease, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, and muscular dystrophy.
An infant or young child with generalized flaccidity may lie in a froglike position, with his hips and knees abducted.
Pediatric causes of muscle flaccidity include myelomeningocele, Lowe's disease, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, and muscular dystrophy.
PATIENT
COUNSELING:
Instruct the patient on what to expect from diagnostic testing, which may include cranial or spinal X-rays, computed tomography scans, and electromyography.
Instruct the patient on what to expect from diagnostic testing, which may include cranial or spinal X-rays, computed tomography scans, and electromyography.
Bibliography:
1. Rapid Assessment, A
Flowchart Guide to Evaluating Signs & Symptoms, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
2. Professional Guide to
Signs and symptoms, Edition V, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
3. Guide to common symptoms,
Edition V, McGraw - Hill, 2002.