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What is the Difference Between Asthenia and Paresis?

Published in Medical Terminology 2 mins read

Asthenia and paresis are both terms related to weakness, but they represent different concepts. Here's a breakdown:

Understanding Asthenia

Asthenia is a general term referring to a lack of strength or energy. It's often described as a feeling of fatigue, weakness, or exhaustion. Asthenia is a subjective experience, meaning it's based on how a person feels rather than being a measurable physical deficit. It can be associated with a wide variety of conditions, such as infections, chronic diseases, and psychological factors.

Understanding Paresis

Paresis, on the other hand, is a more specific term describing a measurable weakness in a muscle or group of muscles. Paresis indicates that the muscle can still contract, but it cannot contract with its normal force. It's a physical impairment that can be observed during clinical examination. The severity of paresis can range from mild weakness to significant functional impairment. According to the provided reference, paresis is a state of weakness that is less severe than paralysis which is the inability to contract a muscle to any degree.

Key Differences in a Table

Feature Asthenia Paresis
Definition Subjective feeling of weakness/fatigue Measurable muscle weakness
Nature General lack of energy Specific muscle impairment
Measurable Not objectively measurable Objectively measurable during an exam
Severity Can be mild or severe Can range from mild to severe

Additional Considerations

  • Subjective vs. Objective: Asthenia is subjective, meaning it's based on how a person feels, whereas paresis is objective, meaning it can be observed and measured by a clinician.

  • Location: Paresis is typically localized to specific muscles or muscle groups, while asthenia is a generalized feeling of weakness.

  • Apraxia: It is important to note, as highlighted by the provided reference, that asthenia is different from apraxia. Apraxia is a condition where an individual struggles to plan and initiate learned movements; however, unlike asthenia, it is not related to motor weakness.

Summary

In short, asthenia is a feeling of weakness or fatigue, while paresis is an actual, measurable weakness of a muscle or muscle group. To differentiate them, think of asthenia as a general feeling of low energy and paresis as an objective reduction in muscle strength.