Upper limb muscle weakness
Weakness of the muscles of the arms.
Also called: Decreased arm strength, Weak arm.
Conditions associated with upper limb muscle weakness
The following conditions have been associated with upper limb muscle weakness in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
Acute transverse myelitis
Acute transverse myelitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z
Autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z is a medical condition that may be associated with vari...
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, axonal, type 2KK
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, axonal, type 2KK is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympt...
Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, axonal, type 2JJ
Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, axonal, type 2JJ is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympt...
Encephalitis lethargica
Encephalitis lethargica is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Glycogen storage disease with severe cardiomyopathy due to glycogenin deficiency
Glycogen storage disease with severe cardiomyopathy due to glycogenin deficiency is a medical condition that m...
Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, Okinawa type
Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, Okinawa type is a medical condition that may be associated with vario...
Late-infantile/juvenile Krabbe disease
Late-infantile/juvenile Krabbe disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and...
Meningioma
Meningioma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Von Hippel-Lindau disease
Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
congenital muscular dystrophy due to LMNA mutation
Congenital muscular dystrophy due to LMNA mutation is a rare congenital muscular dystrophy characterized by pr...
congenital myasthenic syndrome 1A
Any congenital myasthenic syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the CHRNA1 gene....
hereditary spastic paraplegia 7
Autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia type 7 is a form of hereditary spastic paraplegia characterized by an o...
nemaline myopathy 7
Any nemaline myopathy in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the CFL2 gene....
neurodevelopmental disorder with achalasia, polyneuropathy, and alacrima
neurodevelopmental disorder with achalasia, polyneuropathy, and alacrima is a medical condition that may be as...
neurodevelopmental disorder with growth impairment, quadriparesis, and poor or absent speech
neurodevelopmental disorder with growth impairment, quadriparesis, and poor or absent speech is a medical cond...
spastic paraplegia 92, autosomal recessive
spastic paraplegia 92, autosomal recessive is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms...
spinocerebellar ataxia 52
spinocerebellar ataxia 52 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Tests providers may use to investigate upper limb muscle weakness
When investigating upper limb muscle weakness, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside upper limb muscle weakness
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Fever
Body temperature elevated above the normal range....
Headache
Cephalgia, or pain sensed in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve....
Muscle weakness
Reduced strength of muscles....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if upper limb muscle weakness is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom upper limb muscle weakness mean?
Upper limb muscle weakness is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. Weakness of the muscles of the arms.
Which conditions are associated with upper limb muscle weakness?
Upper limb muscle weakness has been reported in association with 21 conditions in the medical literature we index, including Acute transverse myelitis, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, axonal, type 2KK, Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, axonal, type 2JJ. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about upper limb muscle weakness?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.