Hypotonia
Hypotonia is a decreased amount of muscle tone, which is the amount of tension a muscle is under when it is at rest, and how quickly it can respond to an outside force. Proper muscle tone allows a child to quickly contract in response to an external force or loss of balance, and to quickly relax once that force is removed. Most parents think if their child is diagnosed as having low tone it is associated with being weak. However, that assumption is false, as these children are absolutely capable of making strength gains. Hypotonia impacts everyone differently, and can affect different body parts in various levels of severity.
Children with hypotonia are often delayed at reaching milestones, they often have increased range of motion at their joints causing them to feel unstable, and they often have more trouble keeping up with their peers. Below is a brief description of how hypotonia can present itself throughout development.
Newborns/Infants – A big sign of low tone in a baby is the feeling that they will slip out of your hands when you pick them up. They also tend to have decreased head control, and when on their back, prefer to maintain legs and arms rotated outwards to rest on the floor.
Toddlers – Often you will see a delay in major gross motor milestones such as walking, running, and jumping. You will also notice when your child is sitting they will often be leaning forward with a rounded back, and in a W-sit position.
Older Children – Your child will often have a lower tolerance for more physically challenging activities, and prefer to be involved in more passive activities. They may fatigue more quickly, and become more clumsy and fall more frequently. Hypotonia may impact their running and walking, and their foot may have minimal to no arch development.
When treating your child I will build a custom treatment plan focusing on promoting proper postural alignment in all play positions, motor control, coordination, and overall fitness, so your child can participate in all activities of their routine.
