Low Muscle Tone

What Is Low Muscle Tone?

Low Muscle tone (otherwise known as hypotonia) is the flimsiness and uncontrollability of a child’s muscles. This can cause problems in the development of the child’s physical abilities including fine and gross motor skills. These skills are imperative in a child’s schooling and every day life.
Often, low muscle tone isn’t recognized as a serious defection in a child’s ability to develop as an adolescent. However, hypotonia can cause coordination problems for your child and must be addressed properly.

What Is Happening With Low Muscle Tone?

Low muscle tone is when a resting muscle is longer than usual, therefore requiring more energy to move. This extraneeded energy can be difficult, especially for a child. In addition, there is more stimulation needed for these muscles to react to certain situations at hand. If a child is to brush his/her teeth, muscles in the hand, forearm, and shoulder must operate. With low muscle tone, it takes a lot to utilize all of these muscles. This results in difficulty in doing the task.

How to Detect Low Muscle Tone

If your child seems on the flimsy, floppy, or extremely clumsy side, there is a possibility of low muscle tone. For instance, your child may be hard to hold due to his/her inability to grasp onto you. Consequently, your child may fall through your arms often or have trouble with walking their first steps. Other signs include problems with:

• general fatigue
• writing
• physical coordination in sports
• standing up straight
• brushing his/her teeth
• getting dressed
• being active in general

These everyday tasks can be difficult for many children as they develop, which is why it’s important for parents to pay careful attention. Additionally, these can be symptoms of other disorders.

How to Work With Low Muscle Tone

There are many ways to improve motor skills for a child with low muscle tone. Using reward incentives, guiding a child through physical activities (eventually letting them do it on their own), and constant encouragement can sincerely help a child fight his tough times with low muscle tone.
Additionally, a child can be brought to a physical therapist to learn strategies and get good practice at physical actions. This will give a child needed self esteem and inspiration to accomplish these necessary tasks on their own. From there, parents can more easily help a child learn movements and gain stability.

In the U.S. including Bergen County, New Jersey, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees a free and appropriate public education for every child with a disability, including Low Muscle Tone.

Contact us to learn how we can help your child with Low Muscle Tone or schedule a complimentary evaluation of your child’s needs and free facility tour.