When clinicians use the term flaccid they simply mean limp. But, in most cases they are using the term to describe “lack of muscle tone” that typically is a result of a neurological process or injury.
A flaccid limb is one that the individual has great difficulty in moving or cannot move at all and is paralyzed. This is commonly seen in spinal cord injuries or stroke victims with a condition called hemiplegia, where one side of the body is paralyzed.
Other conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or “Lou Gherig’s disease” can also cause flaccidity of the limbs and muscles.
In many instances, caregivers will be encouraged to perform range of motion exercises on the flaccid limbs to prevent tightening up of the tissues and also to promote circulation.