Paresis
Pronunciation: pah-REE-sis
Partial loss of voluntary motor function, denoting weakness rather than complete paralysis; a precise term that editors must not conflate with 'paralysis' or 'plegia.'
Full Definition
Paresis refers to a condition of reduced but not absent motor strength, distinguishing it from plegia (complete loss of motor function). In PM&R documentation, the term is used with anatomical prefixes: monoparesis (one limb), paraparesis (both lower limbs), hemiparesis (one side of the body), or quadriparesis/tetraparesis (all four limbs). The degree of weakness is typically quantified using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale or manual muscle testing. Editors must resist normalising 'paresis' to 'paralysis' as they describe fundamentally different clinical states with different implications for rehabilitation potential and prognosis. The distinction also affects coding under ICD-11.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'paresis' (partial) vs. 'plegia' (complete) consistently; do not substitute one for the other. Always check anatomical prefix accuracy (e.g., hemi-, para-, mono-, tetra-).
In Context
- "The patient presented with right-sided hemiparesis following ischaemic stroke, retaining trace voluntary movement in the distal upper extremity." — Physiatric Consultation Note
- "The editor corrected 'paralysis' to 'paresis' per the original neurologist's finding of residual motor function." — Medical Editing Revision Log