hemiplegia
Pronunciation: hem-ee-PLEE-jee-uh
Complete paralysis of one side of the body, typically resulting from stroke, brain injury, or other neurological insult.
Full Definition
Hemiplegia describes the total loss of voluntary motor function on one side of the body (arm and leg), most commonly caused by a cerebrovascular accident or traumatic brain injury affecting the contralateral hemisphere. In rehabilitation contexts, it is a defining diagnosis that shapes the entire care plan, from positioning protocols to functional goals. Editors must carefully distinguish hemiplegia (complete paralysis) from hemiparesis (partial weakness on one side), as misuse of these terms is a frequent error in clinical manuscripts and patient information materials. The affected side is described as 'hemiplegic' and should be consistently identified as right or left throughout the document.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use interchangeably with 'hemiparesis.' Hemiplegia = complete paralysis; hemiparesis = partial weakness. Always specify left or right.
In Context
- "Left hemiplegia was confirmed following the patient's right middle cerebral artery stroke, and she was admitted to the neurorehabilitation unit." — Neurological rehabilitation admission note
- "The article repeatedly used 'hemiplegia' and 'hemiparesis' interchangeably; the editor standardized usage to 'hemiplegia' throughout, consistent with the diagnosis." — Copy-editing revision log