Barbie
Extremely helpful member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2007
- Messages
- 2,681
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 01/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- FL
- City
- orlando
I found this on the web today, thought summarized the info very well. The difference between LMN and UMN damage seems to confuse many.
Signs of Upper Motor Neuron Lesions (UMNL)
1. Paralysis or weakness of movements of the affected side but gross movements may be produced. No muscle atrophy is seen initially but later on some disuse atrophy may occur.
2. Babinski sign is present: The great toe becomes dorsiflexed and the other toes fan outward in response to sensory stimulation along the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot. The normal response is plantar flexion of all the toes.
3. Loss of performance of fine-skilled voluntary movements especially at the distal end of the limbs.
4. Superficial abdominal reflexes and cremasteric reflex are absent.
5. Spasticity or hypertonicity of the muscles.
6. Clasp-knife reaction: initial higher resistance to movement is followed by a lesser resistance
7. Exaggerated deep tendon reflexes and clonus may be present.
Signs of Lower Motor Neuron Lesions (LMNL)
1. Flaccid paralysis of muscles supplied.
2. Atrophy of muscles supplied.
3. Loss of reflexes of muscles supplied.
4. Muscles fasciculation (contraction of a group of fibers) due to irritation of the motor neurons – seen with naked eye.
5. Muscle fibrillation (contraction of individual fibers) – detected only by EMG
6. Muscle contracture (shortening of paralyzed muscles)
7. Presence of muscle wasting
Signs of Upper Motor Neuron Lesions (UMNL)
1. Paralysis or weakness of movements of the affected side but gross movements may be produced. No muscle atrophy is seen initially but later on some disuse atrophy may occur.
2. Babinski sign is present: The great toe becomes dorsiflexed and the other toes fan outward in response to sensory stimulation along the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot. The normal response is plantar flexion of all the toes.
3. Loss of performance of fine-skilled voluntary movements especially at the distal end of the limbs.
4. Superficial abdominal reflexes and cremasteric reflex are absent.
5. Spasticity or hypertonicity of the muscles.
6. Clasp-knife reaction: initial higher resistance to movement is followed by a lesser resistance
7. Exaggerated deep tendon reflexes and clonus may be present.
Signs of Lower Motor Neuron Lesions (LMNL)
1. Flaccid paralysis of muscles supplied.
2. Atrophy of muscles supplied.
3. Loss of reflexes of muscles supplied.
4. Muscles fasciculation (contraction of a group of fibers) due to irritation of the motor neurons – seen with naked eye.
5. Muscle fibrillation (contraction of individual fibers) – detected only by EMG
6. Muscle contracture (shortening of paralyzed muscles)
7. Presence of muscle wasting
