Have you ever wondered why your child’s body seems “floppy”? Do their muscles feel “loose”? Ever feel like your little one feels especially “heavy” to carry or lift, more so than they should? Maybe they feel as if they are slipping through your grasp when trying to pick them up?
Low muscle tone, officially defined as Hypotonia, could be the cause of these symptoms. The official cause of Hypotonia is unknown; however, it is very common and can be present in normal infants, as well as infants with specific diagnoses such as Down’s Syndrome or Prematurity. If a child has Hypotonia, it is very likely for them to present with delayed milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking and even speaking.
Some common symptoms may include:
- poor tolerance to tummy time (infant laying on their tummy)
- difficulties pushing up through their hands when on their tummy
- inability to lift and hold their head up (head dropping forward or backward)
- troubles sitting up on their own
- difficulties with feeding
- absent or delayed reflexes
- poor sitting posture
If you have any concerns or questions about hypotonia or feel your child could benefit from free phone screening or comprehensive evaluation with one of our licensed physical therapists, please call us at (704) 821-0568. We look forward to speaking with you and helping your child overcome their limitations!