PSYCHOGENIC MOTOR WEAKNESS
PSYCHOGENIC MOTOR WEAKNESS Motor weakness is a common symptom presenting in neurology out-patient department or in an emergency room. It is important to determine whether it is of psychogenic or neurological origin. A few clinical signs can help in this matter. 1. Hoover's sign- Place the palm of your hand under the heel of foot on the side with "normal" power and ask the patient to lift the "affected" side. In a person with neurologic (genuine) weakness, you would feel the heel (of the normal foot) pressing against your palm. The affected leg would be weaker. On the other hand, in a person with psychogenic weakness, no pressure would be felt on the palm. 2. Raise the affected arm and let it drop. In a person with neurologic weakness, it falls on the body part if allowed to drop there. On the other hand, in a person with psychogenic weakness, the falling hand avoids any body part in order to avoid getting hurt. Please ensure that while testing, the hand ...