Treatment for High or Low Muscle Tone in Monroe, West Monroe, & Ruston, LA
Muscle tone is the natural tension in a child’s muscles at rest, and when it’s too high or too low, it can make movement, posture, and everyday tasks harder to manage. Building Futures Pediatric Therapy offers physical and occupational therapy at clinics in Monroe, West Monroe, and Ruston, LA, to help children build strength, flexibility, and motor skills through fun, play-based sessions.
Your child’s muscle tone may not be something you think about often, but it’s vital for their overall development and wellbeing. What exactly is muscle tone, and why is it important? Keep reading to find out, and learn how pediatric physical therapy can help if your child’s muscle tone is too high or too low.
What Is Muscle Tone?
Muscle tone refers to the natural tension you can feel in a muscle at rest. It plays a crucial role in supporting posture, movement, and overall physical wellbeing. When muscle tone is too high, it’s known as hypertonia, which can cause stiffness and limited flexibility. On the other hand, when muscle tone is too low, it’s called hypotonia, which can cause decreased muscle strength and poor motor control.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypertonia
The most common symptoms of hypertonia (high muscle tone) include:
- Stiffness and resistance to movement
- Difficulty relaxing muscles
- Limited range of motion
- Awkward or jerky movements
- Poor balance and frequent falls
- Pain or soreness in muscles
- Muscle twitches
Signs and Symptoms of Hypotonia
The most common symptoms of hypotonia (low muscle tone) include:
- Poor muscle strength and endurance
- Floppiness or lack of resistance to movement
- Difficulty maintaining an upright posture
- Delays in reaching motor milestones
- Arms and legs hang without bending joints
How Can High or Low Muscle Tone Impact My Child’s Development?
Both hypertonia and hypotonia can significantly impact your child’s development. This is because both high and low muscle tone can lead to delays or struggles with your child’s fine and gross motor skill development. All movement, such as crawling, sitting, running, writing, or getting dressed, depends on the development of fine and gross motor skills. If your child’s muscle tone is too high or too low, it can be challenging for them to build these vital motor skills for their growth and development.
How Physical Therapy Improves Muscle Tone
At Building Futures, our dedicated pediatric physical therapists use proven, play-based therapy techniques to address and improve muscle tone. Through simple but fun activities, stretches, and exercises, we help children improve their muscle tone for successful movement. We tailor our therapy plans to each child’s unique needs and interests to ensure they have fun while they build their developmental skills. With routine physical therapy, your child can build confidence, improve their motor skills, and achieve their developmental goals.
Free Developmental Screening
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, you can take advantage of our free online developmental screening. This tool is a convenient way for parents to know with certainty if your child is achieving their developmental milestones or if they need extra support to achieve their brightest future.
FreQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does muscle tone mean?
Muscle tone is the natural tension in the muscles when the body is resting or moving. If tone is too high, a child may feel stiff. If tone is too low, a child may seem floppy, tire easily, or have trouble holding posture.
What are signs my child may have high muscle tone?
High tone may show up as tight muscles, stiff movements, trouble relaxing the body, toe walking, legs that cross over each other when moving, or difficulty with dressing or staying in comfortable positions. A therapist can help identify what is affecting your child’s movement.
What are signs my child may have low muscle tone?
Low tone may look like poor posture, delayed sitting or walking, frequent leaning, tiredness during play, weak grasp or trouble with coordination. Children with low tone often work harder to do everyday movements.
How does therapy help with high or low tone?
Therapy helps your child use their body with more comfort and control during everyday activities. Sessions may include playful movement, practicing comfortable positions, stretching or strengthening, along with simple ideas you can use at home.
Can muscle tone affect school or daily activities?
Yes. Muscle tone can affect sitting at a desk, handwriting, dressing, playground skills, feeding or keeping up with peers. Therapy focuses on the daily tasks that are hardest for your child.