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Muscle tone is defined as the tension in a muscle at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction. Muscle tone can be classified as 'postural' and 'phasic' types. Postural tone is seen in axial muscles where gravity is the most important factor, while phasic tone is commonly assessed clinically in the extremities as a rapid and short-duration response. Muscle tone can be influenced by physical disorders, resulting in abnormally low (hypotonia) or high (hypertonia) muscle tone. Strength training, cardio exercise, and a healthy diet are recommended for increasing lean muscle mass and improving muscle tone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Traditional Definition | "the tension in a relaxed muscle" or "the resistance, felt by the examiner during passive stretching of a joint when the muscles are at rest" |
| Muscle Tone Classification | Postural, Phasic, Active, Passive |
| Muscle Tone Disorders | Dystonia, Paratonia, Spasticity, Rigidity |
| Muscle Tone and Movement | Muscle tone may reflect a state of preparedness to move |
| Muscle Tone and Strength | Muscle tone is not necessarily indicative of strength |
| Muscle Tone and Flexibility | High tone decreases flexibility, while low tone increases it |
| Muscle Tone and Appearance | High tone is perceived as "tight, light, strong" while low tone is perceived as "lax, flabby, floppy, mushy, dead weight" |
| Muscle Toning Exercises | Strength training with light weights and high repetitions |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle tone vs. muscle strength
Muscle tone and muscle strength are two distinct concepts. Muscle tone refers to the tension present in a muscle when it is at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction. Appropriate muscle tone allows the body to quickly respond to a stretch and protect against injury. Muscle tone can be classified as 'postural' and 'phasic' types. Postural tone is commonly seen in axial muscles, resulting from steady stretching of the muscles and tendons, while phasic tone is typically assessed in the extremities and involves rapid, short-duration responses.
On the other hand, muscle strength refers to the muscle's ability to contract and create force in response to resistance. It is the power of contraction, dependent on muscle mass, which can be altered through weight training and exercise. Muscle strength is what occurs when you consciously contract your muscles to perform actions such as pulling, pushing, lifting, or moving. For example, if someone tries to straighten your elbow, your muscle strength would be your ability to resist that force.
Low muscle tone, or hypotonia, is characterised by muscles that are slow to react to stretches and unable to sustain prolonged contractions. Individuals with low muscle tone may exhibit a "floppy" or "mushy" appearance, struggle with posture, and require more energy for tasks due to the extra effort needed to move their muscles. Conversely, high muscle tone, or hypertonia, is associated with muscles that are in an "over-reactive" state, reacting quickly and maintaining prolonged contractions. Individuals with high muscle tone may have difficulty relaxing their muscles and can be at risk for a reduced range of motion and orthopedic issues.
It is important to note that high muscle tone does not always equate to higher strength. In fact, hypertonic muscles can be weak once the high tone is reduced through various methods. Additionally, muscle tone is determined at birth and cannot be permanently altered through exercise. Physiotherapy aims to increase muscle strength to compensate for low tone, rather than focusing solely on changing muscle tone.
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Disorders causing abnormal muscle tone
Muscle tone is the tension in a relaxed muscle or the resistance felt during the passive stretching of a joint when the muscles are at rest. Physical disorders can result in abnormally low (hypotonia) or high (hypertonia) muscle tone. Hypotonia can present as muscle flaccidity, with floppy limbs, decreased stretch reflex responses, and decreased resistance to passive movement. Hypertonia, on the other hand, can manifest as spasticity or rigidity.
Disorders causing low muscle tone (hypotonia)
Low muscle tone or hypotonia is observed in lower motor neuron diseases, such as poliomyelitis. It can also be caused by nerve problems or diseases, leading to neurogenic atrophy, which results in a loss or thinning of muscle tissue. Specific disorders associated with hypotonia include:
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a spontaneous degeneration of the neuromuscular complex, often starting in childhood, leading to high-arched feet, sensory changes, and recurrent dislocation of the patella.
- Friedreich's ataxia: an autosomal recessive disease caused by a lack of frataxin in mitochondria, leading to oxidative stress and sclerosis of the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of coordination.
- Cerebral palsy: a central nervous system disorder present from birth or infancy, causing mild to severe loss of motor control, ranging from almost undetectable to totally incapacitating.
Disorders causing high muscle tone (hypertonia)
Hypertonia is associated with upper motor neuron diseases, such as lesions in the pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts. It can manifest as spasticity or rigidity, with uncontrollable muscle spasms, stiffening, or abnormal posture. Specific disorders linked to hypertonia include:
- Cerebral palsy: a disorder affecting muscle control, often resulting from brain or spinal cord injuries, which can lead to severe spasticity and pain.
- Parkinson's disease: a movement disorder characterised by rigidity, which is associated with basal ganglia injuries and results in stiffness and decreased range of motion.
- Dystonia and paratonia: these disorders involve altered muscle tone due to network disruptions in the basal ganglia and thalamocortical circuits.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): a condition that can cause spasticity due to damage to nerve pathways controlling movement and stretch reflexes.
Treatment options
The treatment for abnormal muscle tone aims to reduce tone in the affected muscles and improve comfort and function. Local injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) or phenol can be effective in relaxing spastic muscles. Additionally, therapeutic interventions such as isokinetic, aerobic, and strength training exercises prescribed by a physiotherapist can help manage hypertonia. In severe cases, surgical treatments may be recommended.
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Muscle tone and movement
Muscle tone is traditionally defined as the tension in a muscle at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction. Appropriate muscle tone allows our bodies to respond quickly to a stretch. For example, if someone straightens your elbow, your bicep muscle will automatically contract in response to protect you from injury.
Muscle tone can be classified as 'postural' and 'phasic' types. Postural tone is seen in axial muscles where gravity is the most important factor. It results from a steady stretch of the muscles and tendons and manifests as prolonged muscle contraction. In contrast, phasic tone is commonly assessed clinically in the extremities as a rapid and short-duration response. It results from the rapid stretching of a tendon and attached muscle and, more precisely, the muscle spindle.
Muscle tone can also be classified into its active and passive components. Active muscle movement is when the body is voluntarily making movements. For example, when you decide to walk to the store, the muscles in your legs actively contract and relax to make this movement possible. Passive muscle movement is when an outside force acts on the body to create movement. For example, if someone pushes you, your body will be forced to move, and your muscles will contract and relax to maintain balance and posture.
Muscle tone is regulated by spinal and supraspinal mechanisms. Spinal control depends on the interaction between the muscle spindle and spinal cord along with the interneurons. Supraspinal control is regulated by facilitatory and inhibitory long tracts and the cerebellum.
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Muscle tone classification
Muscle tone is traditionally defined as the tension in a muscle when it is at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction. Muscle tone can be classified as postural and phasic types. Postural tone is seen in axial muscles where gravity is the most important factor. It results from a steady stretch of the muscles and tendons and manifests as prolonged muscle contraction. On the other hand, phasic tone is commonly assessed clinically in the extremities as a rapid and short-duration response. It results from the rapid stretching of a tendon and attached muscle, specifically the muscle spindle.
Apart from this, muscle tone can be classified into active and passive components. Active muscle tone is defined as "the constant muscular activity that is necessary as a background to actual movement in order to maintain the basic attitude of the body, particularly against the force of gravity". Passive muscle tone, on the other hand, is defined as "the tension in a muscle at rest". It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction.
Muscle tone can also be classified as normal, high (hypertonia), or low (hypotonia). Physical disorders can result in abnormally low or high muscle tone. Low muscle tone is perceived as "lax, flabby, floppy, mushy, dead weight", while high muscle tone is perceived as "tight, light, strong". However, it is important to note that muscles with high tone are not necessarily strong, and muscles with low tone are not necessarily weak. In general, low tone increases flexibility and decreases strength, while high tone decreases flexibility and increases strength.
Spasticity and rigidity are the two types of hypertonia, resulting from dysfunction in the supraspinal pathways and the interaction between the spinal cord and muscle spindle. Dystonia and paratonia are two other disorders of altered tone, arising from network disruption in the basal ganglia, thalamocortical circuits, and their connections. These disorders manifest as abnormalities of muscle tone but are not exactly related to the physiological dysfunction of the tone pathways.
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Increasing muscle tone
Muscle tone is defined as the tension in a muscle at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction. Muscles with high tone are not necessarily strong, and muscles with low tone are not necessarily weak. However, in general, high tone decreases flexibility and increases strength, while low tone increases flexibility and decreases strength.
To increase muscle tone, one can engage in strength training, which involves performing a number of repetitions of an exercise with a light yet challenging weight. This type of training focuses on muscular endurance rather than size. It is recommended to strength train two to three times a week and incorporate at least 150 minutes of cardio exercise, such as fast walking or swimming. Additionally, a healthy diet is crucial, as a certain amount of body fat is necessary for maintaining health, especially in women.
Another way to increase muscle tone is through physical therapy, which can be particularly beneficial for children with low or high muscle tone. A physical therapist can provide specific exercises and activities to address these conditions and improve overall muscle function.
It is important to note that muscle tone can be influenced by various physiological factors, including the cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, brainstem reticular system, spinal cord, and muscle spindle. Disorders of muscle tone, such as hypertonia and hypotonia, can arise from dysfunction in these pathways. Therefore, seeking professional advice before starting any exercise regimen is essential, especially if one has a physical disorder or muscle tone abnormality.
Additionally, muscle tone may reflect a state of preparedness for movement, as proposed by Bernstein in his hierarchical model of movement construction. This suggests that muscle tone is an adaptive function that responds to commands from upper levels of movement construction, fine-tuning the excitability of sensory and motor cells for active postural or movement control. Thus, increasing muscle tone involves not only strengthening exercises but also improving the body's ability to respond to external forces and maintain its basic attitude against gravity.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle tone is defined as the tension in a muscle at rest. It is the muscle's response to an outside force, such as a stretch or change in direction.
Muscle tone refers specifically to the tension in a muscle at rest, while muscle strength refers to the ability to contract and resist an outside force.
To increase muscle tone, one should strength train 2-3 times a week, incorporate at least 150 minutes of cardio exercise, and eat a healthy diet. Strength training should focus on higher repetitions with a light yet challenging weight.
