Take a bathroom scale into an elevator. Step on the scale.
What happens to the reading on the scale as the elevator begins to move upward? to move downward?

The patient could be going through paralysis, which is when the motor neurons are severed which stops electrical signals from passing into the muscles.  It can be caused by severe trauma to the body or psychological stress.

(I'm not sure if this is the best answer so you might want to double-check online)