Muscle tone is one of the physiological properties of the human body. The nature of this condition has not yet been established, but there are several theories that experts adhere to. Muscle tension at rest can change under the influence of external factors or diseases of the nervous system. There are two types of pathology: hypertonicity and hypotonicity. In the article we will consider in detail their symptoms and treatment.
Meaning of muscle tone
Tonic muscle tension is a normal physiological state of the human body, which is carried out at the reflex level. Without it, it would be impossible to perform many movements, as well as maintain the position of the body. Muscle tone keeps the body in readiness for active action. This is its main purpose.
What is the mechanism of muscle work with normal tone? If all the fibers of the tissue are involved in the movement, then at rest they replace each other. While some are tense, others are resting. Interestingly, the process directlyaffects the psycho-emotional state of a person. For example, a decrease in muscle tone leads to a decrease in performance and is observed mainly during sleep. The state is accompanied by natural calmness: excessive excitement is significantly reduced.
Regulation of muscle tone is carried out with the help of alpha and gamma motor neurons, afferent fibers and spindles. The impulses come from the brain. The basal nuclei, cerebellum, and midbrain (red nucleus, substantia nigra, quadrigemina, reticular formation) are responsible for maintaining muscle tone. When the neurons responsible for tonic tension are damaged, its disturbances occur: hypotonia or hypertonia of the muscles.
Diagnosis in adult patients
Change in tone can occur for various reasons. Most often, these are diseases of the nervous system or a complex psycho-emotional state. A neuropathologist or orthopedist deals with the problem of muscle tone disorders. To correctly diagnose, conduct an examination. Muscle tension is assessed in a relaxed state and during passive movements using special tests: dropping the head, supination-pronation, swinging the legs, shaking the shoulders and others.
Examination is quite difficult: not every patient can completely relax. At the same time, the qualification of the doctor is also important - the assessment of the state is affected by the speed of passive movements. External factors can also distort the results: muscle tone changes under the influence of temperature and mental state. The most difficult situations requirere-inspection.
Tone in children up to a year
In the womb, the fetus is very close, so all the muscles are in constant tension. After birth, the baby has physiological hypertonicity. At the same time, the head is thrown back, and the legs and arms are brought to the body.
The position of the baby in the womb and in the birth process affects which muscles are tense. For example, with facial presentation, there is an increased tone of the neck (the newborn throws his head back). In the “forward buttocks” position, the child’s legs are spread apart, forming an angle of 90 ° between them. Lying on the bed, the baby tries to assume the usual fetal position.
Diagnosis of tone in babies
During the examination, the pediatrician or neurologist evaluates the condition of the child's muscle tone according to the following criteria:
- At 1 month, the baby, lying on his stomach, tries to raise his head and holds it for a few seconds. Legs make bending movements, as if crawling. If you put your hand under the feet, he will push off from it.
- By 3 months, the baby holds his head confidently. If you raise it in a vertical position, the legs will make movements, as when walking. The child can lean on the foot. If you put him on his back and pull the handles, he will pull himself up using his own strength.
- Up to 6 months, the baby rolls over from his stomach to his back, tries to get up on all fours, holds small objects in his hands.
- By the year the child sits confidently, tries to walk with support andhimself, fine motor skills develop.
If the baby cannot perform one of the listed actions due to excessive tension or, conversely, muscle weakness, they speak of pathology. Additionally, the doctor evaluates the symmetry of the tone. To do this, alternately bend and unbend the arms and legs of the child. They also observe active movements in different positions of the body. A deviation from the norm is hypotonicity, hypertonicity, which persists even during sleep, and muscle dystonia.
Types of hypertonicity and causes of its development
Increased muscle tone can manifest itself in different ways. Experts distinguish:
- Spasticity - develops due to craniocerebral and spinal injuries, meningitis, encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke. It is characterized by uneven distribution of hypertonicity, when only certain muscle groups are spasmed.
- Rigidity is a sharp increase in skeletal muscle tone, occurs as a result of diseases of the nervous system, the poisoning effect of certain poisons.
- Gegenh alten - sharply increasing muscle resistance during passive movements of any type. Occurs due to damage to the mixed or corticospinal tracts in the frontal regions of the brain.
- Myotonia - characterized by slow relaxation of tense muscles after active movements.
- Psychogenic hypertension - during a seizure, a "hysterical arc" is formed.
In children, the cause of hypertonicity is birth trauma, hypoxia in childbirth, damage to the nervous system andbrain, meningitis, hyperexcitability or hyperactivity.
Symptoms of hypertonicity
Hypertension of the muscles is expressed in their excessive tension in a relaxed state. The disease can be identified by the following signs:
- decrease in motor functions, muscle stiffness;
- seals;
- feeling of constant tension;
- soreness;
- cramps;
- significant muscle resistance during passive movements;
- children have tearfulness, increased nervous excitability, increased muscle resistance when repeating flexion-extensor movements;
- in an upright position with support on the legs, the baby draws in the feet, standing on tiptoe;
- deceleration of the motor development of the child (does not sit down, does not crawl, does not walk at the right age).
It is not difficult to notice hypertonicity in an adult or a child, especially in the middle and severe stages. The gait changes, actions are carried out stiffly, with great difficulty. At the same time, babies are clamped and tense, often scream and sleep poorly, react painfully to any, even minor, noise. There is profuse regurgitation after eating.
Causes and symptoms of muscle hypotension
Weak muscle tone is characterized by low tissue tension in a relaxed state, which makes it difficult to actuate them. This happens mainly due to damage or disease of the spinal cord, cerebellum or extrapyramidal disorders and cerebellar damage. Seizures also occurduring which muscle tone is temporarily reduced. This occurs in the acute phase of a stroke or midbrain tumor.
Weak muscle tone in children is less common than hypertension. Its appearance can be triggered by prematurity, slow brain development, damage to peripheral nerves during the birth process, congenital malformations, Down's syndrome, rickets.
Symptoms of muscle hypotension in babies are:
- lethargy, overly relaxed state;
- breathing disorders, inability to swallow, suck;
- poor physical activity;
- excessive sleepiness, poor weight gain.
Violation of muscle tone in the direction of its decline can be observed in adulthood. Various diseases usually lead to this: muscle dystrophy, sepsis, rickets, meningitis, Sandifer's syndrome. The condition is accompanied by physical weakness, reduced resistance to passive movements. When flexed, the joints unbend on their own, the muscles feel soft to the touch.
Muscular dystonia in adults and children
With muscle dystonia, uneven tone is observed. At the same time, there are signs of both hypotension and hypertension. The main symptoms of dystonia in children and adults are:
- excessive tension of certain muscles and relaxation of others;
- spastic contractions;
- involuntary movements of legs or arms;
- fast or slow movements of certain parts of the body.
A condition is developing due to genetic, infectious diseases, birth injuries, severe intoxications.
Treatment
Muscle tone is important to normalize in time, especially in childhood. The progression of symptoms leads to impaired movement, scoliosis, cerebral palsy, and delayed development. There are several methods of treatment:
- massage with muscle tone gives good results, for this the muscles are stroked, kneaded, stretched, their strength is trained, making physiological movements (flexion-extension);
- therapeutic gymnastics, including in water;
- physiotherapy: electrophoresis, ultrasound, treatment with heat, water and mud;
- in difficult cases, medications are used, among which B vitamins, dibazol, mydocalm can be prescribed.
With hypertonicity, the muscles try to relax with the help of stroking, healing injuries, light massage, stretching. With hypotension, on the contrary, they stimulate motor movements by performing muscle tone exercises. Motor activity significantly improves the patient's condition.
Impaired muscle tone is a common problem in children of the first year of life and adults with diseases of the nervous system. It is quite easy to treat with the help of massages, less often - medicines. Mobility returns to normal, and there is no trace of the problem. The main thing is to start treatment on time, avoiding serious violations and developmental abnormalities.skeleton and muscles.
