Symptom 5: Muscle Weakness
Muscle weakness is a cardinal symptom of many motor neuron diseases, including PLS. Over time, affected individuals may find that their muscles, especially those in the legs and arms, start to feel weak.
This isn’t a sudden onset of weakness but rather a gradual decline. Simple activities like opening a door, lifting objects, or even brushing hair can become increasingly challenging as the disease progresses.
Muscle weakness in PLS is due to the deterioration of the motor neurons that send signals from the brain to the muscles. As these neurons become impaired, the muscles begin to lose their strength, leading to the observed weakness.
It’s important to differentiate this from the normal muscle weakness one might feel after a strenuous workout or a long day. In PLS, the muscle weakness is persistent and progressive, often starting in one part of the body and gradually spreading to other areas.
While muscle weakness cannot be reversed in PLS, physical therapy and occupational therapy can help patients maintain muscle function and mobility for as long as possible. (5)
