Different Types of Hemiparesis and Hemiplegia
Hemiparesis and Hemiplegia are two of the most critical neurological conditions, which can make life hell. How? By impacting motor function, independence, and quality of life. While both involve one-sided involvement of the body, their severity, clinical patterns, types, and treatment differ from each other.
In case you know someone who might be having Hemiparesis or Hemiplegia, knowing its types might help you. On that note, here are different types of Hemiparesis and Hemiplegia.
Hemiparesis refers to the partial weakness on one side of the body, which is most commonly associated with stroke or traumatic brain injury. In a study, it was found that 65% of people who had a stroke later suffer from hemiparesis. As if there were no fixed side, it could happen on either side.
Some forms of hemiparesis include:
➔ Ipsilateral Hemiparesis: This is a rare condition. Ipsilateral hemiparesis causes weakness on the same side of the body as the side of the brain after a stroke or brain injury.
In 2017, a study was conducted including 8,360 people, which found that an individual with ipsilateral hemiparesis can have mobility difficulties. Moreover, it is significant in specific spinal or brain stem injuries.
➔ Spastic Hemiparesis: Spastic hemiparesis is a condition where a patient has atypical levels of muscle stiffness or tone in one half of the body. Spasticity is mostly seen in the upper motor neuron lesions. In addition, it impairs fluidity of movement and is a key target in neurological treatment. Consequently, it affects a person’s arm more than their leg.
➔ Ataxic Hemiparesis: Ataxic hemiparesis is a condition which combines weakness with coordination difficulties. It usually occurs when a person starts having difficulty coordinating their voluntary muscle movements. The main causes of Ataxic hemiparesis are small vessel strokes such as lacunar infarcts. However, a patient having it walks with a wide, unsteady gait due to impaired balance and control.
This condition can be understood as a neurological condition in which one entire side of the body loses voluntary movement. Unlike hemiparesis, it results in severe or complete paralysis of the arm, leg, and sometimes the facial muscles.
Although it's permanent, treatment modalities like physical therapy, muscle spasticity management, and adaptive equipment can provide some relief to a patient.
A few different types of hemiplegia include:
➔ Spinal Hemiplegia: It refers to a hemiplegia or paralysis due to spinal cord lesions above the C6 portion of the spinal column. Under this condition, the spinal cord is completely severed and can often end up causing paralysis on both sides of the body, typically below the injury site.
➔ Cerebral Hemiplegia: When the reason for Hemiplegia is cerebral palsy, it takes the form of Cerebral Hemiplegia. Moreover, it is often caused by brain lesions such as cortical stroke or traumatic brain injury.
➔ Facial Hemiplegia: Also known as partial facial paralysis. Under this condition, muscles on one side of the face get paralysed. However, it is mostly prevalent in conditions like Bell’s palsy or brainstem injury. Therefore, it may or may not be linked with complete hemiplegia in other parts of the body.
➔ Spastic Hemiplegia: This form of Hemiplegia is a subtype marked by muscle hypertonia. A patient having it might experience a state of constant muscle contraction on one side of the body.
Moreover, it is closely linked to cerebral palsy and chronic stroke survivors. Approximately 20–30% of people with cerebral palsy have spastic hemiplegia.
➔ Contralateral Hemiplegia: It is a result of brain damage or injury. The paralysis in this condition occurs on the opposite side or where the brain damage happened. Contralateral hemiplegia limits mobility because the brain controls the motor functionality on the left side of the body.
Understanding the nuances of hemiparesis and hemiplegia is important for everyone, not just for doctors or healthcare professionals. The Indian medicine world has seen remarkable advances in treatment. For instance, electrotherapy and evidence-based rehabilitation can achieve noteworthy improvements in a person having Hemiparesis and Hemiplegia.
