Review of Tone Management for the Primary Care Provider

The treatment of spasticity and dystonia in children is optimized through the collaborative effort of a multidisciplinary team of providers who specialize in the care of these children. Surgical treatment should be considered in children who have not had an optimal response to conservative therapy. A discussion of outcome goals with the family will facilitate the choice of treatment options. Use of the Modified Ashworth Scale, Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale, and GMFCS helps to follow the benefit of treatment over time, and it allows for a standardized way to perform serial assessment of these complex patients.