Motor Vehicle Accidents Are a Top Cause of Paralysis

In New York and across the nation, motor vehicle accidents remain one of the main causes of paralysis injuries. Though most people associate paralysis injuries with a person being confined to a wheelchair, there are many different types of paralysis.

Causes of paralysis

Paralysis is caused when the line of communication between the brain and muscles is severed. It could result from an injury to the spinal column, nerves, brain or the junction between the muscle and nerve. The damage involved in motor vehicle accidents often results in paralysis.

Types of paralysis

There are many types and severity levels of paralysis. For example, partial paralysis means that you can still move your muscles somewhat, while complete paralysis means that no muscle movement is possible.

There is also temporary paralysis in which you may regain control of muscle function and permanent paralysis in which control is never regained. Other types include flaccid paralysis where the muscles atrophy or spastic paralysis which causes the muscles to jerk randomly.

Where does paralysis occur in the body?

Paralysis can occur anywhere in the body and can be localized or generalized. Localized paralysis involves just a small area of the body such as the face, hand or foot. Generalized paralysis involves larger areas of the body and is classified by how large that area is.

For example, quadriplegia and paraplegia, the most common types associated with motor vehicle crashes, is when both arms and both legs and both legs have no muscle control, respectively.

Monoplegia affects just one body part like a limb, while hemiplegia affects the whole side of a body. Lastly, diplegia affects the same body part on both sides of the body like both hands or both sides of the face.