weakness in upper motor neurone lesions
Last reviewed 01/2018
The distribution of weakness after upper motor neurone lesions is:
In the upper limb:
- shoulder abduction
- wrist and finger extension and finger abduction are weaker than antagonist responses
In the lower limb:
- hip flexion, knee flexion, dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot are weaker than their antagonists' action
- patient may be unable to lift the leg off the bed and can have a foot drop at a time when hip extension and quadriceps function are normal and it is possible to stand on 'tiptoe'.