[Approach to Patients with Lack of Strength].

Abstract

In the examination of patients with "lack of strength", abnormalities in motor units (α motor neurons, myelinated fibers, neuromuscular junctions, and muscle fibers), spinal cord-mediated neurons, projections that descend the spinal cord to control motor units (corticospinal tract, corticoreticular tract, and reticulospinal tract), and autonomic nerves, are considered, and physiological changes, diseases, and external factors are investigated. Appropriate assessment of muscle strength, investigations for pyramidal tract signs, appropriate expression of pathology, blood sampling, needle electromyography, and magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography of the head, are desirable.