Dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) is prescribed for a client experiencing flexor spasms. What is the therapeutic action of this medication?

Dantrolene sodium is specifically designed to act directly on skeletal muscle, which differentiates it from other muscle relaxants that may primarily influence the central nervous system or spinal cord. Its therapeutic action involves reducing muscle contractility by preventing the release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum within the muscle cells, leading to a decrease in muscle excitability and contractility. This mechanism effectively alleviates spasticity in conditions like flexor spasms, making it particularly useful in managing muscle stiffness and spasms associated with various neurological disorders.

The other options refer to mechanisms that do not accurately represent how dantrolene works. The medication does not primarily work through reflex pathways in the spinal cord or CNS but rather engages directly with the muscle tissue itself. Thus, understanding that dantrolene’s action is localized to skeletal muscle is key to recognizing its role in treating conditions characterized by spasticity.