By Henry Ready 05/02/2026 Conditions

Hypertonia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Struggling with Hypertonia?

Struggling with muscle stiffness, tightness, or reduced mobility? You are not alone. Hypertonia is a condition where muscles remain abnormally tense; this can make everyday movements feel difficult and even painful. The constant muscle tightness can be exhausting when it affects your ability to walk, exercise, or even simply go about your daily routine.

If left untreated, hypertonia can lead to compensatory movement patterns which can result in poor posture. This can further lead to joint problems and chronic pain, further impacting your quality of life. But the good news? It does not have to stay this way.

At Recover Physiotherapy, we specialise in identifying the root cause of the increased muscle tone and provide personalised treatment programs to help you regain mobility, reduce discomfort, and restore muscle function to its optimum. Through a combination of soft-tissue therapy, dry-needling, targeted exercises, and expert guidance from our physiotherapists, we can help you take control of your symptoms and get back to doing what you love every day.

Keep reading to learn more about hypertonia, its causes, and how physiotherapy can help.

Lesley Everett

07/05/2026

Following 4 sessions of massage, acupuncture and an exercise programme to carry out at home my back pain has greatly improved and I now feel able, following the advised exercise plan, to help alleviate future pain. The help I have had from Sophia has been excellent and I would not hesitate to return in future should I need to.

Dan Coman

27/04/2026

I’ve had a number of appointments with Leah Upton to help me with some neck and back pain. She’s always provided an excellent service, and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my condition over the few months I’ve been seeing her. I’d recommend her.

Emily Browne

20/02/2026

I used Recover Physio after years of back pain. Sophia was amazing, very encouraging and patient with me. Within a year of going, my back pain is more manageable and I am confident in using the tools she gave me. All staff were really friendly and I would highly recommend them and Sophia. Thank you for everything!

John Barnes

16/10/2023

Great experience, back pain solved after first visit. plus plenty of advice to prevent it reoccurring. Prefer the Nest location for easy access and parking at the door.

William Boulton

14/10/2022

I went here for back pain and was treated expertly by one of the Physios Calum, who was really nice and helpful. After a few weeks I am back to normal with a plan for how to keep my strength up to avoid future injury

Linda Mortimer

22/09/2022

Earlier this year my husband was referred by Bupa to see a physio at Recover having experienced severe, intermittent back pain for some years. We were so lucky and found Callum, who has been simply amazing. Callum was able to put our minds at ease straight away. He carefully disseminated information from medical reports and an MRI in a way we could understand and in a context that did not cause us any anxiety or worry. All along the treatment path, Callum has reassured us, providing clear explanations of his findings and provided my husband with exercise plans to remedy the problems. We cannot recommend Callum highly enough and would have no doubt in visiting him should we have any further problems. We must also give a mention to the reception team at Recover who have always been so amenable in providing us with appointments at short notice. Many thanks again to Callum and Recover

Spastic Hypertonia: Characterised by sudden onset muscle spasms, which can lead to stiffness and difficulty with movement. It often occurs due to neurological conditions such as a stroke or spinal cord injury, where the brain struggles to send signals to the muscles correctly.
Dystonic Hypertonia: Unlike spastic hypertonia, muscle stiffness here occurs even when at rest, without movement triggering the tightness. This can result in abnormal postures, muscle cramps, and persistent discomfort.

Hypertonia can present itself in all sorts of different ways, often varying in severity and type. Common signs include:

Muscle stiffness and reduced mobility: Tightness that makes day-to-day movements difficult.
Involuntary muscle spasms and twitching: Sudden, uncontrolled movements or jerking.
Throbbing pain and muscle soreness: Persistent discomfort due to overactive muscles.
Postural abnormalities: Difficulty maintaining proper posture due to increased tone.
Joint stiffness: Reduced flexibility in limbs or joints due to prolonged tightness.
Difficulty with coordination and balance: Movements may feel clumsy or unsteady.

Treating hypertonia requires a multifaceted approach to manage symptoms and improve function. Options include:

Physiotherapy: A cornerstone of management to improve movement and reduce pain.
Muscle relaxant medicine: Often prescribed by a GP to help reduce tension.
Regular exercise: Targeted mobility training to maintain joint range.
Surgery: In severe cases where other treatments have not been successful.

At Recover Physiotherapy, we provide a personalised approach catered to each patient’s specific needs. We recommend that you first consult with your GP where necessary before starting a new treatment regime.

Hypertonia and hypotonia are opposite conditions affecting muscle tone. While hypertonia refers to increased muscle tone and stiffness, hypotonia refers to decreased muscle tone, leading to “floppy” or weak muscles, poor posture, and difficulty with coordination. Hypertonia is often linked with conditions like stroke or cerebral palsy, whereas hypotonia is frequently seen in cases of Down Syndrome or muscular dystrophy.

Both conditions can be managed with physiotherapy, though the approach differs significantly. For hypertonia, we focus on reducing tone through mobilisations and dry-needling. For hypotonia, our aim is to strengthen muscles and improve stability.

What does hypertonia mean?

Hypertonia is a condition where muscles remain abnormally tight and tense because they cannot relax properly, which often leads to restricted movement and discomfort. It is typically caused by damage to the central nervous system that disrupts the communication pathways between the brain and the muscles.

What is the difference between hypertonia and hypotonia?

While hypertonia involves increased muscle tone and stiffness, hypotonia refers to decreased muscle tone, often resulting in “floppy” or weak muscles and poor coordination. Both are opposite conditions affecting how the body manages muscle tension and stability.

What does hypertonia look like?

In practice, hypertonia often appears as stiff, rigid limbs or involuntary muscle spasms and twitching. It can also manifest as abnormal postures or a lack of coordination, making movements seem clumsy or unsteady.

What are the symptoms of hypertonia in adults?

Common symptoms include persistent muscle soreness, throbbing pain, and reduced joint flexibility. Adults may also experience difficulty with everyday tasks like walking or exercising due to the constant, exhausting muscle tension.