Although the problem is relatively common and most often not a serious issue, it is important for the child's proper development that treatment is implemented promptly and that appropriate care and attention is provided. Fortunately infant physiotherapy can significantly help children whose problem is reduced muscle tone.
What is reduced muscle tone in children?
Our muscles are responsible for maintaining correct posture and controlling movement. In a child's harmonious development, muscle tone increases and improves over time and muscles become stronger.
However, in children with reduced tension (hypotonia), building muscle strength can be difficult and delayed. Reduced muscle tone in children is a condition in which a child's muscles are too weak, so that the child can achieve the skills typical of children their age.
Most often, the abdominal muscles have too little tension, while distally, i.e. in the shoulder girdle, hands or feet, they are too tight. This is because there is compensation process, i.e. the body strives for equilibrium and makes up for a deficiency in tension in one area with too much tension in another part of the body.
It is sometimes the case that one specialist states lowered and another states raised tension in a child. Both may be right if they are talking about different muscle groups. However, generalising we paediatric physiotherapists We are ALWAYS talking about central tension and not peripheral tension. Therefore, a child with weak trunk muscles and tightly stretched arms and legs has an overall reduced muscle tone.
Skhat is the origin of reduced muscle tone?
Everyone is born with muscle tension. When a child has increased or decreased tension in certain muscle groups, we speak of a disorder of muscle tone control. If the muscles in a particular group are tighter on one side, for example on the right side of the trunk, then we are dealing with a disorder of muscular tension distribution, specifically this is asymmetry in infants.
Reduced muscle tone is characterised by weakened muscles. This can significantly influence our child's motor development and posture in the future. Increases the risk of postural defects such as scoliosis or flat feet.
Factors influencing tension disorderscia ming in infants;
- Prematurity
Premature babies very often have reduced muscle tone. Their nervous system and muscular system are immature but with time their muscle tone should improve, even out. It is often necessary to support from a paediatric physiotherapist. - Genetic predisposition
Sometimes genetic factors are behind reduced muscle tone in children. Toddlers inherit hypotonia from mum, dad and sometimes even both parents. - Genetic defects
In many genetic or metabolic diseases, reduced muscle tone is an associated symptom. - Neurological damage
Cerebral palsy, hypoxia Perinatal, congenital defects of the nervous system sometimes present with hypotonia because the brain structures that control the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles are damaged. - Congenital diseases
Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus during pregnancy or in the perinatal period can affect the baby's muscle tone. - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS.
How do you know if an infant has reduced muscle tone?
The symptoms of reduced muscle tone can be very different. It often takes a great deal of knowledge and experience in the examination and diagnosis of children and infants to recognise them quickly and well. Below is a small download that can help parents recognise reduced muscle tone in their infants at home.
Lack of head control in the child
This is the first, most important and, in my opinion, the easiest symptom for parents to notice of reduced muscle tone.
Unfortunately, without head control, the baby will not be able to reach the next developmental stages. Therefore, if your baby is 3 months old and does not have head control it will be necessary to physiotherapy for babies.
Delayed motor development
If your little one has difficulties in reaching developmental milestones typical for his age should turn on a red light. Stable lying on the belly, turning from back to belly, sitting up, quadrupling or walking. These are skills that should occur in your child at a specific time. If this is not the case, seek specialist advice.
Difficulties with sucking
If the child is unable to suck effectively or suckles, but is very restless or tired and falls asleep quickly - this may also be related to reduced tension in the trunk and mouth.
Problems with adopting higher positions
Reduced tension can affect a toddler's ability to pull their trunk off the ground. These children avoid the high support position, the quadruped position, supported kneeling or sitting because they have a difficulty maintaining body stability.
Sluggishness, little spontaneous activity
Some children with severely reduced tension are lethargic, sleep a lot and find it hard to encourage them to be active.
Very ‘’soft’’ body and joint hypermobility.
In the event of a large reduction in muscle tone children often have a body as soft as a sponge. Sometimes parents say that the child is not stiff, but they have the impression that they are overflowing through their arms. They also have very mobile joints, their ranges of movement are much greater than other children.
If you are concerned the child's muscle tone let your paediatrician or experienced child therapist examine them and make a diagnosis. Accurate identifying the problem and cause is key, in order to best plan and implement the appropriate therapy as soon as possible.
What does therapy for children with reduced muscle tone look like?
Therapy for reduced muscle tone in children is always tailored to the individual needs of the child.
Obviously, the sooner the problem is diagnosed and the sooner the therapy process begins, the greater chance of rapid results.
The end result is also influenced by the involvement of parents, who are an indispensable part of the therapeutic team, as they exercises must continue outside the office in a home environment.
Can reduced muscle tone be ‘’fixed”'?”?
Parents sometimes ask us this question. Yes, you can, but the improvement in muscle tone depends on the age of the child, the cause and severity of the hypotonia and the frequency of exercise. In the case of hypotonia, the following works well Vojta therapy and Ndt Bobath therapy. In older children PNF method and in some cases MEDEK method.
As I have already mentioned, each case is different and only after a thorough diagnosis and functional assessment of the child can the most appropriate therapy be selected for the child's needs.
How can a paediatric physiotherapist help?
In conclusion, every child HAS muscle tone, and reduced muscle tone is not the end of the world. If you have concerns about your little one's development - consider Consultation with a paediatric physiotherapist. In Warsaw you can go to one of our facilities.
Earlier diagnosis and support means shorter fixation of abnormal movement patterns and probably shorter rehabilitation! Properly selected exercises, combined with correct care by the parents at home, allow the child to reach its full developmental potential and prevent the formation of postural defects!
Anna Bernaś
Paediatric physiotherapist
