In chronic somatic dysfunction, which best describes the muscle tone?

• A. Increased muscle tone
• B. Decreased muscle tone
• C. Normal muscle tone
• D. Fluctuating muscle tone

Answer: (B)

In chronic somatic dysfunction, long-standing neural and connective tissue changes lead to a lower resting muscle tone rather than persistent high tone. Over time, protective guarding and acute hypertonicity tend to subside, while muscle fibers may become less responsive and tissues accumulate fibrosis, resulting in a softer, less taut posture at rest. This contrasts with acute dysfunction, where muscle tone is typically increased due to active guarding and spasm. Normal tone wouldn’t reflect the ongoing dysfunction, and fluctuating tone implies unstable neuromuscular input, which isn’t characteristic of a chronic, established pattern.