Medical

Definition

Weakness refers to a decrease in muscle strength . Fatigue is tiredness that may be either independent of, or associated with, exertion. The complaints of weakness and fatigue are among the most common and challenging problems encountered by clinicians . Because patients may use these terms to describe a variety of symptoms, the physician should attempt to obtain a precise understanding of the problem . Technique

Weakness and fatigue are nonspecific symptoms that may be encountered in a bewildering number of medical and psychiatric disorders ; they also may be the expected physiologic consequence of normal human activities. Most patients with weakness or fatigue have self-limited conditions and do not seek medical care . Among those who visit a physician, weakness and fatigue are often part of an easily identified symptom complex . The patient who presents with chronic weakness or fatigue as the sole or major complaint may represent a more difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problem ..