Laura, "Paratonia" is not a specific term that I have ever heard or seen cited in the literature; so hearing where the term came from would be of interest to me. However, knowing that the woman had brain injury from anoxia leads me to a couple potential hypotheses. Not having her medical history, I need to make a couple assumptions. First, I would assume that she probably was in a coma at the time of onset. If so, knowing the length of time would be helpful. Also, does she have an oculomotor or trochlear extrinic eye movement palsy? Are her arms contracted at all? If so in flexion or towards extension? If the answers to the above are yes, then I am certain that she increased ICP at onset. This likely caused a downward displacement of the brain from the supratentorial compartment to the infratentorial compartment. When this happens the midbrain level of the brainstem is compressed resulting in a commonly seen oculomotor palsy (there may be a trochlear, but seldom an abducens palsy). Thus, the likely cause of this extensor tone is the tonic drive from the reticulospinal and vestibulospinal infuences on the extensor motor neuron pools of the spinal cord. That is the main cause for the increased response in the primarily postural control muscles. Treatment is tricky; but you can rely on the response of these tonic muscles to relax with prolonged stretch. I would move her into flexed postures and hold her there getting her to relax and try to rest in your arms as you wait for any inhibition to occur. Let me know the details and we can see if I am on the right track with my assumptions. Good luck, Kathy Sullivan

I'm curious about the term "Paratonia", as well. I checked several sources to no avail. Please tell us more.