Most of the time, this is not due to a problem with the muscles themselves. It is more likely due to a problem somewhere along the chain of nerve cells that runs from the body part to your brain and back again. These nerve cells deliver the signals for your muscles to move.

Based on the patient’s need, treatment can range from physical therapy to adaptive technology.

Paralysis can occur in any part of the body and is either localized, when it affects only one part of the body, or generalized, when it affects a wider area of the body. Localized paralysis often affects areas such as the face, hands, feet, or vocal cords.

A study called the Paralysis Population Survey, which was started by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and conducted by the University of New Mexico’s Center for Development and Disability, found that nearly 1 in 50 Americans is living with some form of paralysis — about 6 million people.