What is it?
Muscle tone refers to the tension our muscles have at rest. It is controlled by a communication pathway between the brain, spinal cord and the muscles.
A disruption in this pathway can cause low muscle tone meaning that the resting state of tension in muscles is less so muscles feel a bit different and take more effort to move.
Low muscle tone may be diagnosed during a newborn assessment or at later health and developmental check ups. Depending on baby’s presentation, further medical investigations could be recommended to determine if there is an underlying cause. Follow up with a Paediatric Physiotherapist could be recommended.
What does it look like ?
A baby with low muscle tone may show the following signs:
Difficulty maintaining head control (especially after 3 months of age)
Feeding challenges, including a weaker suck, tiring quickly during feeds, swallowing difficulties
Feeling unusually limp when lifted (often described as “floppy”)
Delay in gross motor milestones e.g. lifting the head during tummy time, pushing up through the arms during tummy time, rolling, and sitting
Tendency to tire easily during play and low tolerance for movement
How can a Paediatric Physiotherapist help?
A Paediatric physiotherapist can help identify low muscle tone and provide advice and strategies to support gross motor development.
This could look like;
Suggesting activities to help warm up muscles in preparation for movement
Play ideas to facilitate movement and help build strength
In some cases the use of postural support garments (trunk, hips) to help with positioning and gross motor skills
References:
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. (2018, September). Low muscle tone. Kids Health Info. https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Low_muscle_tone/
