akinesis

9.9

Loss of the ability to move muscles on purpose

noun
/ˌeɪkɪˈniːsɪs/

Specialized

: akinesis

The patient's akinesis made rehabilitation challenging, as she could not perform voluntary movements.

Examples

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can present as an isolated apical dysfunction of the left ventricle with apical/midventricular akinesis compensated by basal hyperkinesis.

Academic text (2016)
After her stroke, she experienced akinesis, unable to move her left arm or leg.
Echocardiographic examination revealed apical and lateral wall akinesis, with severe depression of global systolic function.

Academic text (2007)
Doctors noted akinesis in the patient's limbs, indicating severe neurological impairment.

Synonyms

paralysis

vsakinesis

81 5.4

Loss of movement and feeling in all or part of the body

focuses only on voluntary movement loss rather than sensory loss or broader damage

akinesia

vsakinesis

Specialized

9.9

Not being able to move parts of the body on purpose

is the broader medical loss of voluntary movement not limited to temporary cases

immotility

vsakinesis

Specialized

9.9

Not being able to move, especially in living things

refers to lost voluntary control of movement rather than lack of spontaneous activity

Antonyms

movement

696 1.5

A change of place when something moves

activity

362 1.1

A state of being busy and moving

How Active

hyperkinesis

Specialized

1 9.9

normal

∞ 1.0

hypokinesis

Specialized

1 9.8

akinesis

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

akinesis singular

akineses plural

Morphology

akinesis = kinesis (semi-transparent) = a + kinesis

The formation is formally regular (privative 'a-' + 'kinesis' = absence of movement), but both elements are specialized Greek-derived medical terms that many learners will not know.

Etymology

Akinesis comes from Greek parts a- meaning 'without' and kinesis meaning 'movement', the same root as kinetic. So, akinesis means 'no movement' or the loss of the ability to move when a person wants to.