Symptoms of Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of a patient’s body but symptoms occur on the opposite side. Moreover, the symptoms depend on the severity of the condition, which includes the following-

• Muscle stiffness or weakness on a particular side
• Permanently contracted muscles or muscle spasms
• Difficulty in walking
• Poor balance
• Poor motor skills
• Difficulty in grabbing objects

When hemiplegia causes because of brain injury, brain damage may cause a few of the additional symptoms. These include difficulty in concentration, memory problems, speech-related problems, seizures, behavioral changes, and many more.

Causes of Hemiplegia

The condition of Hemiplegia takes place because of the following major causes-

• Stroke

Stroke is a common cause of hemiplegia or hemiparesis. However, the severity of muscular weakness experienced by a patient depends on the location and size of a stroke. Children experience hemiplegia because of stroke in their womb.

• Brain Trauma

Sudden injury or impact to the head may cause brain trauma or severe form of brain damage. If the trauma causes only one side of the brain, it leads to hemiplegia. Common causes of brain trauma are sports injury, car collisions, and assaults.

• Brain Infections

Brain infections result in permanent damage to the brain cortex. Many infections take place because of bacteria but a few of them are fungal or viral ones.

• Brain Tumors

Brain tumors result in many physical problems, including the brain damage of hemiplegia. Here, the symptoms become worse with the growth of the tumor.

• Genetics

ATP1A3 genetic mutation even though it is a rare condition may cause an alternating type of hemiplegia in kids. The problem causes temporary symptoms of hemiplegia, which often go and come.