Which is paralysis of all four limbs

On this page Basics Summary Start Here. See, Play and Learn No links available. Resources Find an Expert. 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. Start Here. Living With. Related Issues. Statistics and Research.

Clinical Trials. As a result, individuals with quadriplegia due to spinal cord injury experience weakness or paralysis, as well as changes in sensation, in the arms, trunk, and legs. The following section will discuss various types of quadriplegia associated with different neurological conditions. Depending on the severity of a neurological injury, individuals may experience varying types of quadriplegia.

Additionally, quadriplegia can result from damage to the brain. Individuals with cerebral palsy CP may experience quadriplegia in the form of:. Paralysis in the arms, torso, and legs can impact your everyday life in a variety of ways.

Depending on the severity of the neurological injury, individuals may experience a wide range of secondary complications associated with quadriplegia. Because quadriplegia affects the majority of the body, individuals may require the help of a caregiver to perform everyday activities such as grooming and feeding.

Additionally, many individuals with quadriplegia need assistive mobility devices such as wheelchairs to increase mobility. Those with more severe weakness or paralysis may find a power wheelchair more helpful while those with milder motor impairments may be able to utilize a manual wheelchair.

The following section will address complications that individuals with quadriplegia have an increased risk of experiencing. Often, individuals with quadriplegia have an increased risk for additional complications due to their limited mobility. Many of these risks are associated with a lack of physical activity.

Therefore, it is important for individuals with quadriplegia to work with their caregivers to ensure they are moving around throughout the day. Even light exercise or stretching can help prevent the progression of these complications and promote better functioning of the body. Home exercise programs like FitMi home therapy can help motivate individuals to be more active and practice movement throughout the day.

If the individual has severe weakness or paralysis, their caregiver can move their body through the exercises for them. While the individual may not be actively performing the exercises, the movement will still be able to promote circulation and stimulate the spinal cord. Damaged neurons in the brain and spinal cord are unable to regenerate. However, areas of the central nervous system unaffected by injury have the ability to recover affected functions by utilizing neuroplasticity.

Therefore, the more you practice a function weakened by injury, the more you stimulate the central nervous system and reinforce demand for those functions. Generally, the milder your injury, the better the recovery outlook. However, as long as individuals have spared neural pathways, there is potential to recover or at least improve functions affected by quadriplegia.

Although those with complete spinal cord injuries resulting in quadriplegia are unable to utilize neuroplasticity to improve their motor and sensory functions, they can still learn various adaptive techniques to become as independent as possible.

The following section will discuss various treatment interventions that utilize neuroplasticity to help individuals with quadriplegia improve their mobility and functional independence. Treatment for quadriplegia may consist of a variety of interventions. Generally, a combination of multiple interventions provides the most effective results. Physical therapy for quadriplegia focuses on helping individuals strengthen weakened or underused muscles and maintain full range of motion through targeted exercises.

A physical therapist will teach individuals the most effective exercises to stimulate neuroplasticity in the central nervous system. A physical therapist may also recommend orthotics such as braces and splints to promote correct musculoskeletal alignment and assist with mobility.

Occupational therapy for quadriplegia focuses on helping individuals become as functional as possible, primarily through activities of daily living. This simulates effects similar to partial quadriplegia, even without damage to the nervous system. Quadriplegia Risk Factors Knowing the causes of quadriplegia is important.

Males are more likely to suffer an SCI than females. So, being male may be a risk factor for quadriplegia-causing injuries. In the period, the mean age at injury had increased to around 43 years old. Also, as people age, they become more susceptible to severe SCIs and TBIs—especially if they suffer from osteoporosis or other conditions that impact bone health.

Risky Behaviors. Doing things like diving, driving dangerously or without wearing seatbelts , or playing high-contact sports can all contribute to the risk of suffering a spinal cord or brain injury that leads to full-body paralysis.

Career Choice. Certain careers, such as police officers, construction workers, and professional athletes in high-contact sports all face increased risk of injury from violence or accidents on the job.

This, in turn, puts them at higher-than-average risk of becoming a quadriplegic. Family Health History. If a condition like ALS a. Quadriplegia Prevention By knowing the major risk factors for quadriplegia, a certain amount of quadriplegia prevention is possible. Some basic steps for minimizing quadriplegia risk factors include: Getting Tested for Congenital Diseases. It is important to discuss your family health history with your doctor and receive screening for various conditions that may run in your family.

Catching the warning signs of ALS or other conditions early on can make a major difference in your therapy. Wearing Appropriate Safety Equipment. In sports, on motorcycles, or at high-risk work sites, it is important to wear the appropriate safety gear whenever possible. Avoiding Risky Behaviors. Avoiding behaviors like drinking and driving, diving especially in shallow waters , and other activities that can lead to serious bodily harm should be avoided.

When risky situations can not be avoided, appropriate safety gear should be used whenever possible. Maintaining a Healthy Diet and Exercise Regimen. Bone and muscle health can have a major impact on the severity of certain injuries. An impact that would merely cause pain to someone with a healthy musculoskeletal system may shatter bones in someone with bone and joint disorders. A diet and exercise regimen can help promote bone health—though it may not prevent disorders such as osteoporosis that negatively impact bone strength.

Types of Quadriplegia Many people think that all quadriplegics are the same—that none of them are able to move their arms and legs at all. Complete Quadriplegia Complete quadriplegia is characterized by a complete loss of control over the arms and legs. Spastic Quadriplegia Spasticity or spastic hypertonia is a common side effect of spinal cord and brain injuries caused by trauma or disease.

Doctors may use several methods to diagnose different causes of quadriplegia, such as: MRI Scans. Doctors can use MRI scans to check for abnormalities such as brain tumors, cysts, and herniated disks in the spinal cord that may be impeding signals from the brain. Spinal Taps Lumbar Punctures. Doctors may need to draw some cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal column to analyze it and check your spinal health.

Blood Tests. To check for deficiencies or to check for genetic markers that could indicate that a congenital condition that causes paralysis was inherited. Electromyography EMG Tests. Doctors may test nerve function to help differentiate between muscle and nerve disorders.

Living with Quadriplegia Living with quadriplegia can be an enormous challenge that requires both the quadriplegic and those around them to make significant adjustments to their lifestyle. Quadriplegia Life Expectancy People living with quadriplegia may have a shorter life expectancy than uninjured persons of the same age. Effects of Quadriplegia Aside from the direct symptoms of quadriplegia mentioned earlier, quadriplegics may experience several other effects caused by the condition.

This, in turn, can lead to secondary infections. Spastic Limbs. Some quadriplegics may experience uncontrolled muscle spasms in their arms or legs. This may be the result of incomplete nerve damage or other conditions that contributed to the quadriplegia. Urinary tract infections UTIs are a common side effect of quadriplegia.

The loss of bladder control makes it difficult to clear the urethra of contaminants, contributing to infections. Muscular Atrophy. Because of an inability to move, quadriplegics often lose muscle mass in their arms and legs—which is known as muscular atrophy. Some exercises and physical therapy can help minimize this side effect of quadriplegia. Chronic Pain. However, the amount of pain experienced varies from one person to the next, making it hard to generalize about this side effect.

Difficulty with Bodily Awareness. This can interfere with spatial awareness. Weight Gain. Quadriplegics who are unable to exercise or move may experience rapid weight gain because of their inability to burn calories. Respiratory infections. A leading cause of death among new quadriplegics, respiratory infections are common in the first few months following an injury.

Men may struggle to achieve an erection and ejaculation while women may have difficulty with lubrication. Quadriplegics of both genders may have difficulty achieving orgasm or experience changes in their libido after an injury. Quadriplegia Exercises Exercises for quadriplegics can be useful for reducing the occurrence of sores, limiting muscular atrophy from inactivity, and relieving pain from spastic muscles. Quadriplegia Therapies Though some quadriplegics experience significant improvements in their symptoms, quadriplegia is not typically curable with treatment.

Some therapy options include: Brain and spinal cord surgeries to address obstructions, reduce bleeding, and manage any swelling. Medication to reduce the risk of infection; you may also take other drugs, such as blood thinners or blood pressure medications. Education about quadriplegia, as well as training on your rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act and other relevant laws.

Some therapy facilities also offer occupational skills training.