Can physio help Hypotonia or "floppiness" in children?

Hypotonia is a medical condition characterised by low muscle tone or decreased tension in the muscles. It is often referred to as "floppiness" because affected children may have limbs that seem excessively relaxed and flop around.

 Children with hypotonia have difficulty controlling their muscles and moving their limbs. As a result they work alot harder and exert a lot more energy to move there body than children who have normal muscle tone

Common signs of hypotonia are:

• Poor head control: Some babies with hypotinia have difficulty lifting there head up while on there stomach or sitting

• Delayed gross motor skills: In babies this presents as delays in rolling, sitting and crawling. In older children this could present as delayed jumping, frequent falls and difficulty with ball skills

• Limpness

• Increased flexibility, especially in the ankles

• Poor lip closure which can impact feeding

The treatment of hypotonia varies from child to child. It demands on the unique challenges that the child is identified to have and the underlying factors contributing to this, based on the physiotherapy assessment. Paediatric Physiotherapists can work with the child to help improve their strength, balance, and coordination through exercises and other activities. Physiotherapy is often a crucial component of treatment for children with hypotonia. Occupational Therapy (OT) may also be helpful in improving fine motor skills and hand function.

If your child have concerns about your child’s muscle tone contact us if you would like to discuss how home-visit physiotherapy can benefit your child

Our friends at Mobile Child Therapy have Occupational Therapists that cover most areas of Sydney. Reach out to them to book in with an OT.