WHY IT MATTERS

Hypotonia is commonly referred to as “low muscle tone”. It a condition that affects the strength and tension of the muscles. Muscle tone refers to the amount of tension or resistance a muscle exhibits when the muscle is at rest. In children with hypotonia, the muscles may feel floppy or limp. This reduced muscle tension does not always equate to muscle weakness, but often the two will occur together.  While it is not a specific medical diagnosis, hypotonia can be a symptom of an underlying condition and can often reflect genetic, metabolic, or structural disorders. Hypotonia in children can impact a child’s motor development starting in infancy.

In infancy:

• Floppy limbs, head lag when bringing your infant up to sitting position

• Feeding difficulties such as poor latch, weak suck, difficulties with gaining weight

• Delayed early motor milestones such as rolling, sitting, poor head control

In Toddlers and older children:

• Delayed walking

• Difficulty with walking longer distances and decreased endurance

• Gross motor delays- such as stairs, jumping, balance

• Poor posture

• Trouble keeping up with peers

• Challenges with additional motor skills such as fine motor or speech delays