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Hypotonia happens when children have low muscle tone, and is often a sign of another serious condition like brain damage, muscular dystrophy [MUHS-kyuh-ler DIS-truh-fee], or Down syndrome.
Hypotonia [hy-puh-toh-NEE-uh], sometimes called floppy baby syndrome, is a condition where infants have poor control over their muscles and may seem like a rag doll when they’re picked up. Their arms and legs may hang loosely at their sides and they may have a hard time controlling their head.
Muscles normally have enough tension in them to stay in one place, even when they aren’t actively moving. Children with hypotonia don’t have enough tension in their muscles to hold them up, and that’s why they may appear to flop when they are picked up. Hypotonia can affect any muscle in the body, including the muscles in the mouth and throat, which makes it hard for children with the condition to swallow.
The main symptom of hypotonia is a lack of muscle tone. Muscles need to keep a degree of tension so that they can resist gravity and the child can hold them up. Children with hypotonia will have a hard time holding up their heads or arms. If your child has hypotonia, they may seem floppy or act like a rag doll when you pick them up. They may also have a hard time swallowing.
Lack of muscle tone can also delay a child’s development, and can cause other problems in the joints and with speech.
Hyptonia may be caused by other conditions that can be present at birth. Many of these conditions are inherited, which means that they’re passed down from parents to children through the genes.
Some causes of hypotonia may include:
There are many other possible causes of hypotonia. Your healthcare provider will work with you to figure out why your child has hypotonia.
Since hypotonia is often the result of another condition, a thorough physical exam and medical history are the first steps taken by doctors. During a physical exam, the doctor will examine your child’s body and ask questions about their medical history and symptoms.
Other tests may include:
Treatment methods for hypotonia depend on the underlying condition causing the disease. Treating the condition causing the hypotonia can help reduce the symptoms. Many of these conditions cannot be cured, but their symptoms can be reduced to help your child live their best possible life. In some cases, muscle tone may increase as the child grows older and continues to develop.
Some treatment methods for hypotonia include: