I. Definition of muscle tone Muscle tone refers to the tension of the muscle, that is, the tension between the starting point and the stopping point of the muscle, which is the basis for maintaining various postures and movements of the body. It can be clinically expressed as follows: 1. Resting muscle tone: It refers to the tension of the muscle when a person is lying quietly at rest. 2, postural muscle tone: refers to the tension of the muscles when a person maintains a certain posture. 3, locomotor muscle tone: refers to the tension of the muscles in the process of movement. 2, normal pediatric muscle tone development 1, fetal period: before 28 weeks muscle tone is very low, with the increase of monthly age, muscle tone gradually increased. 2.Neonatal period: it shows a significant increase in flexor muscle tone and a flexion posture of the limbs (the first flexion period). 3, 2-3 months: flexor tone gradually decreases, extensor tone gradually increases, and asymmetric extension posture appears, i.e. ATNR posture (first extension phase). 4.4-6 months: flexor tone increases, the extremities flex symmetrically, and the ATNR posture disappears (the second flexion phase). 5.After 7 months: With further development of the cortex, the flexor tone gradually decreases, coordinated movements of flexor and extensor muscles appear, and the limbs can be freely extended (second extension phase), and gradually develop towards the standing position. Third, the clinical significance of abnormal muscle tone The nervous system provides graded control of movement, the spinal cord level (low level) of the detrusor reflex is the basis of casual movement, the supraspinal center and reticular formation (intermediate level) can regulate the spinal reflex, while the brain (high level) oversees the entire motor system, through the regulation of lower level centers to inhibit the contraction of skeletal muscle groups, so that the body in normal activities, can maintain a certain posture and autonomous Coordinated movements. Abnormal muscle tone is an important indication for the diagnosis and typing of cerebral palsy. It can be seen that there is a certain pattern in the development of pediatric muscle tone. Without mastering the developmental pattern of normal children, one cannot accurately determine whether it is abnormal or not, and abnormal muscle tone is an important indication of cerebral palsy, so an incorrect judgment often causes unnecessary tension and anxiety to parents, and also brings economic loss and waste.