How to treat high muscle tone
Disease description:
After a stroke, increased muscle tone has developed, and symptoms such as muscle stiffness and movement coordination problems have now appeared. How should this be treated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Increased muscle tone often presents as muscle stiffness and uncoordinated movement, commonly seen in conditions such as post-stroke sequelae, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Common treatment methods include:
1. Oral medications: These include trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride, baclofen, diazepam, and levodopa tablets. These medications can reduce muscle tone through different mechanisms.
2. Local drug injections: For patients with localized hypertonia, local injection of botulinum toxin type A is an effective treatment method. Botulinum toxin injections act at the neuromuscular junction, blocking the release of neurotransmitters, thereby reducing muscle spasms and elevated muscle tone.
3. Physical therapy: This includes heat application, cold application, electrotherapy, and ultrasound, which help relax muscles and relieve pain.
4. Rehabilitation training: Such as stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as balance and coordination training guided by physical therapists, can improve patients' motor function and quality of life.
5. Hydrotherapy: Utilizing the buoyancy and resistance of water for treatment helps relax muscles and improve blood circulation.
6. Surgical treatment: If conservative treatment methods are ineffective, surgical intervention may be considered. Common surgical procedures include spinal cord stimulator implantation, deep brain stimulation, tendon lengthening surgery, and nerve block procedures.
