What seizure type is characterized by muscle stiffness?

The type of seizure characterized by muscle stiffness is indeed tonic seizures. During a tonic seizure, the person experiences a sudden onset of stiffening of the muscles, which can lead to a loss of posture and may cause the individual to fall if they are standing. This stiffness predominantly affects the muscles in the back, legs, and arms, resulting in a rigid body posture.

Tonic seizures are a specific type of generalized seizure, meaning they affect both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. They typically last for a few seconds to a minute. This characteristic of sustained muscle contractions differentiates tonic seizures from other types. For example, clonic seizures involve rhythmic jerking movements, while focal seizures can manifest in various ways depending on the area of the brain affected and may not involve stiffness. Myoclonic seizures consist of brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles, not a sustained stiffness.

Understanding the distinct features of different seizure types is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment, which is why identifying the tonic seizure's hallmark symptom of muscle stiffness is essential.