Abnormal Muscle Tone: Symptoms, Types and Treatments

Abnormal muscle tone can result from various conditions such as tetanus, eccentric contraction, and isometric twitch, leading to a progressive reduction in force response indicative of aberrant muscle physiology, particularly in dystrophic muscle.

Involuntary movements, collectively known as hyperkinetic movement disorders, may manifest as chorea, athetosis, dystonia, hemiballism, tremor, tic, or myoclonic jerk. Recognizing these movements is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

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Types of Muscle Tone Disorders

Hypertonia

Hypertonia is characterized by excessively high muscle tone and can be caused by:

Central nervous system injuries
Spinal cord injuries

Symptoms of hypertonia include

Loss of function
Reduced range of motion
Deformity
Muscle stiffness

Hypotonia and Atonia

Hypotonia involves abnormally low muscle tone, leading to challenges such as difficulty maintaining head posture.

Impact of Hypertonia

Hypertonia commonly restricts joint mobility and can significantly affect daily functioning.

Factors for Abnormal Muscle Tone

These conditions can arise from various factors, including:

Head trauma
Stroke
Brain tumors
Neurotoxins
Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease)
Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy)

Signs and Symptoms of Low Muscle Tone

Seems limp when you lift them.
Have increased flexibility in their joints.
Have poor posture.
Get tired quickly
They do not have much strength in their muscles.

Treatments for Abnormal Muscle Tone

Usually, medical professionals only suggest surgical interventions for severe cases of abnormal muscle tone. Among these therapy modalities are:

Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) Therapy

This procedure involves placing a pump under general anesthesia in your abdomen so that it can continuously discharge a dose of the drug baclofen into the spinal fluid via a catheter attached to the pump. Compared to taking baclofen orally, this can result in a significant reduction in pain and abnormal muscle tone with a decreased risk of sleepiness.

Dorsal Rhizotomy with Selection (SDR)

An imbalance in the electrical signals that go to specific muscles might result in abnormal muscle tone. SDR carefully performs a surgical incision to realign the electrical signals sent to your spinal cord-limited muscular groups. It can be applied in conjunction with other abnormal muscle tone treatments.

Integrated Care Team for Managing Muscle Tone Disorders

Neurologist
Physician (a specialist in rehabilitation).
Advanced practitioner in medicine.
Physiotherapist
Occupational Therapist
A speech-language pathologist
Neurosurgeon
Orthopedic physician
Treatments for spasticity without surgery

Non-Surgical Therapies for Abnormal Muscle Tone

Physical Therapy: A physical therapist's primary focus is usually on mobility training, which includes transfers, standing, and walking, as well as exercises for strengthening and extending the lower extremities.
Occupational Therapy: Typically, an OT concentrates more on upper stretching, strengthening, and training of the extremities to carry out daily tasks, including cooking, cleaning, and bathing.
Speech Therapy: A speech therapist can help you speak, communicate, and swallow if the muscles in your mouth, face, and throat have abnormal muscle tone.
Bracing or Casting: Applying casts or braces to the afflicted areas of your body might assist in stretching spastic muscles over time, improving range of motion and facilitating function.

Medical professionals usually prescribe oral drugs in conjunction with other therapies. Medication is usually only prescribed if your abnormal muscle tone interferes with your ability to operate normally or sleep.

Drugs for Abnormal Muscle Tone

Lioresal, or Baclofen.
ZANAFLEX Tizanidine.
sodium dantrolene (Dantrium®).
Valium (diazepam).
AKA Klonopin, clonazepam.
Neurontin, or gabapentin.
Botox therapy for rheumatism

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of muscle tone disorders?

Muscle tone disorders include hypertonia (high muscle tone), hypotonia (low muscle tone), and atonia. These conditions can affect mobility and daily functioning.

What are the common causes of abnormal muscle tone?

Causes can range from neurological conditions (like stroke and cerebral palsy) to trauma (head injuries, spinal cord injuries) and neurodegenerative diseases (such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease).

What are the symptoms of hypertonia?

Symptoms include muscle stiffness, reduced range of motion, loss of function, and deformities, impacting joint mobility and daily activities.

What are the treatments for abnormal muscle tone?

Treatments include surgical options like Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy (ITB) and Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), as well as non-surgical therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medication.

When should surgical intervention be considered for abnormal muscle tone?

Surgical options are considered for severe cases where non-surgical treatments have been insufficient in managing abnormal muscle tone, aiming to improve mobility and quality of life.