Another treatment for tone management which should be done alongside positioning is stretching. This aims to maintain the length of the muscle to prevent shortening and possible development of contractures.
This should only be done after training from an experienced therapist but it can be done by any member of staff and as the patient improves they and their family and carers can be taught safe stretching techniques to maintain position, alignment and muscle tone. Stretching also aids mobilisation of the joints.
Stretching can be applied to a limb by strapping, splints, manual stretching or a combination of all these.
Tips for manual stretching
Strapping
Splints or orthoses
Page last reviewed: 05 May 2020
