What is the Difference Between Muscle Tone and Muscle Strength

The key difference between muscle tone and muscle strength is that muscle tone is the total tension that is collected in the muscle tissue of a child during relaxation, while muscle strength is the ability to collect power of the muscle tissue by different forces of push, pull, lift, and move continuously.

Muscle tone and muscle strength are two terms related to muscle tissues. It is an important aspect of the development of a child, especially for movement and body balance. Normal values of muscle tone and muscle strength create a balance in body movement and stability. Abnormal values lead to many disease conditions that require the attention of physiotherapists or physicians.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Muscle Tone 
3. What is Muscle Strength
4. Similarities – Muscle Tone and Muscle Strength
5. Muscle Tone vs Muscle Strength in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Muscle Tone vs Muscle Strength

What is Muscle Tone?

Muscle tone is the total tightness or tension that is collected within the muscle tissue of a child during relaxation (sleeping position). Muscle tone is an important aspect when it comes to the stability and posture of a child. Hence, an appropriate tone of muscle is an extremely important factor. If the required muscle tone is not gained, we call it an abnormal muscle tone or defective muscle tone.

Muscle tone resolute with the onset of childbirth. Depending on the level of resolute, muscle tone could be high low, or normal. The two extremes, high and low, cause the two-disease conditions: hypotonia and hypertonia. Hypertonia is a condition where muscles under tense positions become rigid and cannot be moved. In the condition of hypotonia, the muscles become extremely saggy and soft in an excessively relaxed position and cannot be moved. Muscle tone is an unconscious element of the body since it only occurs during the activation of motor units of the body and shrinks during relaxation.

What is Muscle Strength?

Muscle strength is the capacity to collect the power of the muscle tissue by different forces of push, pull, lift, and move continuously. Physical activities lead towards the development of muscle strength. The muscle strength and level of physical activities involved are directly proportional. The appropriate amount of muscle strength is an important aspect of a growing child. Abnormal values of muscle strength directly cause different disabilities when it comes to movement and posture.

Without muscle strength, individuals become lazy and feel fatigued to perform simple movements and other physical activities. Muscle strength also describes the relationship between muscle tissue and the nervous system. Muscle strength is a conscious element of the body since it is present in a conscious state always. The development of muscle mass and strength involves protein-rich food along with physical activities. Abnormal levels of muscle strength indicate the development of muscular diseases like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy.

What are the Similarities Between Muscle Tone and Muscle Strength?

• Both types involve in creating stability of the body.
• They assist in body posture and movement.
• Abnormal values in both muscle tone and strength are responsible for diseases.

What is the Difference Between Muscle Tone and Muscle Strength?

Muscle tone is an unconscious element of the body, while muscle strength is a conscious element of the body. Muscle tone is the total tension that is collected in the muscle tissue of a child during relaxation. Muscle strength is the ability to collect the power of the muscle tissue by different forces of push, pull, lift, and move continuously. Thus, this is the key difference between muscle tone and muscle strength.

The below infographic presents the differences between muscle tone and muscle strength in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Muscle Tone vs Muscle Strength

Muscle strength and muscle tone are two important aspects during the development of a child since they are directly involved with body posture, stability, rigidness, and movement. Muscle tone is the total tension that is collected in the muscle tissue of a child during relaxation. It is an unconscious element of the body. Muscle strength is the ability to collect the power of the muscle tissue by different forces of push, pull, lift, and move continuously. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis are the disease conditions related to abnormal levels of muscle strength. So, this is the summary of the difference between muscle tone and muscle strength.

Reference:

1. “Muscle Tone.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Child-puddle-water-play-fun-rain” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Photo of man, person, male, guy, weight, arm, fitness, muscle, chest, strength training, barbell, physical exercise, human positions, human action, physical fitness, biceps curl, press up” (CC0) via Pxhere

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