Muscle tone, the resting tension

Muscle tone

Muscle tone is the slight tension a muscle keeps even when the body is resting. It is what gives a limb its readiness to move.

After a stroke or nerve injury, tone can rise or fall. High tone makes a limb feel stiff. Low tone makes it feel floppy and heavy. Both change how a person moves and how a caregiver helps.

Our physiotherapist checks tone during the first assessment. We then choose movement, stretching or support that suits the person’s tone, and show the caregiver what feels normal to expect. The plan is reviewed as tone settles over time.