What condition describes paralysis from the waist down?

Paraplegia specifically refers to paralysis that affects the lower half of the body, typically resulting from spinal cord injuries or conditions that disrupt the nerves controlling the legs and lower body. This condition affects both sides of the body below the waist, leading to a loss of movement and sensation in the legs and the lower part of the trunk.

In contrast, quadriplegia involves paralysis of all four limbs, hemiplegia refers to paralysis on one side of the body, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons but is not defined by a specific level of paralysis. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why paraplegia is the term that accurately describes paralysis from the waist down.