![]() ![]() Some children may benefit from these suggestions: try breaking down large assignments into smaller parts. During floor work, try having the child to lie on his/her stomach or sit in a chair so he/she can participate in the lesson without muscle fatigue.įor school activities that require a large amount of physical work such as written assignments or physical education lessons, teachers may need to modify the requirements. During seat work, some children may need a supportive chair or seat cushion to help maintain proper posture. In school, a child with low muscle tone may have trouble maintaining an upright posture. How to Help Children with Low Muscle Tone at School Once a child learns a new skill, allow ample practice time with the new skill to fully master it. During leisure time, play fun games that incorporate physical activity such as practicing animal walks or obstacle courses. Focus on improving core muscle strength and hand strength as well. Encourage them to keep trying and recognize small accomplishments.įor extracurricular activities, try swimming, karate, gymnastics or other sports that build overall muscle strength. Some children with low muscle tone may take a little longer to learn new motor skills compared to their peers. How to help children with low muscle tone on a daily basisįirst and foremost, be patient. ![]() When a student needs to focus so much effort into performing motor skills this can influence academic grades. Hypotonia does not affect intelligence although sometimes low muscle tone can affect a child’s academic abilities. In some children, though low muscle tone can result in delayed motor skill development, difficulties with speech or feeding, trouble toilet training and/or poor posture. The degree of low muscle tone can vary significantly from one child to the next. If there is low muscle tone, it requires more effort to contract a muscle. The ability to create and sustain a muscle contraction is essential for motor skills, coordination skills, and balance skills to develop. Why is it Important to Help Children with Low Muscle Tone? Muscle tone and muscle strength are not the same things. Hypotonia is also referred to as low muscle tone. Hypotonia is a decreased amount of tension or floppiness in a resting muscle. Pediatric OTs and PTs are excellent resources to help children with low muscle tone. Therefore, it is crucial that parents and teachers understand how to help children with low muscle tone on a daily basis. Children who have low muscle tone may receive direct occupational or physical therapy services for a limited time per week or month. As pediatric therapists, we often work with children who have hypotonia or low muscle tone. However, the hypotonia often goes away after you recover.If you are a parent or teacher, you might wonder how to help children with low muscle tone. Rarely, hypotonia is caused by botulism infections or contact with poisons or toxins. Children with Tay-Sachs disease and trisomy 13 typically have shortened lives. These conditions include:Ĭhildren with Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome often benefit from therapy. Hypotonia can also be caused by genetic conditions. In many cases, these chronic conditions require lifelong care and treatment. brain damage, which can be caused by lack of oxygen at birth.Hypotonia can be caused by conditions that affect the brain, central nervous system, or muscles. These disabilities may continue through childhood. Some children with benign congenital hypotonia have minor developmental delays or learning disabilities. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help your child gain muscle tone and stay on track with development. This is called benign congenital hypotonia. Some children are born with hypotonia that isn’t related to a separate condition. In other cases, a cause is never identified. Sometimes it’s the result of an injury, illness, or inherited disorder. Problems with the nervous system or muscular system can trigger hypotonia. ![]()
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