There are many potential causes of muscle weakness, including aging, exercise, neurological and autoimmune conditions, and viral infections. Once an underlying cause is diagnosed, treatment options may include physical and occupational therapy, dietary changes, medications, surgery, and use of assistive devices such as a walker or cane if the weakness is severe.

If muscle weakness persists, gets worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms, call your healthcare provider to determine what the underlying cause is. If muscle weakness comes on suddenly, treat it as an emergency