Why Do I Experience Hand Weakness?

Experiencing persistent weakness in your hands can significantly impact your quality of life. If you have weakness in your hands, it can be difficult to perform everyday tasks. It can be especially problematic if you use your hands to perform your job. If you lack strength in your hands, picking up objects or gripping tools can be challenging.

However, to address the issue, you need to know what is causing it. There are many possible underlying issues that can lead to hand weakness. Understanding the root cause of your hand weakness will help you determine the best course of action for treatment.

Weakness In The Hands And Its Impact On Hand Anatomy And Physiology

The human hand comprises 27 bones (19 in the hand and eight in the wrist), 34 muscles, and numerous tendons, ligaments, and nerves. The anatomy of the hand is complex and enables the hand to perform a wide range of movements. The muscles in the hands are responsible for flexing, extending, abducting, or adducting the fingers and thumb. These movements enable us to pick up objects, write, type, push buttons, etc.

However, when you experience weakness in your hands, it can impair your ability to do these activities. Weakness in the hands can refer to decreased strength or difficulty performing specific movements.

Negative Implications Of Having Weak Hands

When you experience hand weakness, it can make everyday tasks difficult or even impossible. It affects your ability to grip objects and the strength of your fingers. This can lead to difficulties with activities such as turning door handles, holding a pen for writing, typing on a computer keyboard, driving, and playing musical instruments, to name a few.

Weakness in the hands may also cause a reduced range of motion and mobility, which can reduce your independence. After all, you rely on your hands to carry out many of the essential tasks in life.

Conditions Associated With Weakness In The Hand

Weakness in the hand is generally referred to as a functional disorder. A functional disorder is a problem with the functioning of muscles, nerves, or tendons. As such, a functional disorder of the hand can lead to weakness, numbness, and reduced range of motion. Some conditions that can cause weakness in the hands include the following:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that is known to cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand. It occurs when one of the major nerves in the hand—the median nerve—becomes compressed at the wrist. The symptoms of CTS can range from mild to severe, depending on how much pressure there is on the nerve.

CTS is normally caused by repeated stress and overuse of the wrist. It can also be caused by medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and pregnancy.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a similar condition to carpal tunnel syndrome. It occurs when the ulnar nerve in the elbow becomes compressed. Some of the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome include tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand. Cubital tunnel syndrome can be caused by any activity that puts stress on the ulnar nerve, such as sleeping with your arm bent for a long period of time or repetitively leaning on your elbow.

Nerve Compression

Nerve compression is the pressure on a nerve caused by surrounding tissues, such as muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Nerve compression can cause pain and weakness in the hands. It can be caused by an injury or medical condition that puts pressure on the nerves in the hand. For example, a tumor or cyst in the wrist can cause nerve compression. An injury like a carpal fracture can also cause nerve compression.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a condition that can affect the hands that causes inflammation of the tendons. It can cause pain, swelling, and weakness in the hands that may be accompanied by stiffness or tenderness. Tendinitis can develop gradually or suddenly, depending on the cause. Overuse of the hand muscles and repetitive motion are common causes of tendinitis. It can also be caused by an injury or medical condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Viral Infections

Viral infections such as mumps, polio, and cytomegalovirus can damage the nerves in the hand and lead to weakness. They cause nerve damage by attacking and damaging the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is the protective coating around the nerve. Depending on the type of infection you have, the symptoms may last a few days or be permanent.

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. It can affect any muscle in the body, including the muscles in the hands. It causes the muscles to become weaker and smaller over time, leading to weakening grip strength and difficulty performing everyday tasks. Symptoms of muscular dystrophy include weakness, joint pain, and reduced range of motion.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder. This condition is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose. People with diabetes are at increased risk for nerve damage and hand weakness because of poor circulation. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to neuropathy, which causes numbness and tingling in the hands. It can also cause muscle weakness, which makes it difficult to do activities that require fine motor skills or grip strength.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder. This means the body’s immune system attacks its tissues. It can cause joint pain, swelling, stiffness, weakness, and loss of dexterity in the hands. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder that can affect any joint in the body but tends to affect the small joints of the hands and wrists first.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system, which includes the nerves that transmit signals from your spinal cord and brain to the rest of your body. It can cause numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and hand pain. The condition can be caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, or other medical conditions.