Low Muscle Tone - Salt Lake City,UT

Updated on March 23, 2010
H.S. asks from Salt Lake City, UT
4 answers

Hi All - my son who is now 14 months old was diagnosed with "low muscle tone" at around 6 months. He wasn't hitting his gross motor milestones. At first I thought this sounded a little funny so I let it go - my oldest daughter hadn't crawled until she was over a year and walked at 17 1/2 months so I wasn't worried. Well at 9 months the doctor said we should look into early intervention. They came over and evaluated him and said the same thing. So he has been in occupational therapy since November and is doing great.

My question is actually regarding my oldest daughter - the one who was later in her gross motor development as well. We had a different pediatrician when she was a baby, but I'm starting to wonder if she has low muscle tone as well. Does anyone have experience with this in older children and what to look for? She is totally bright (we have her in advanced programs) but has a hard time concentrating at school and doing homework takes forever! My son's therapist suggested a few things to help her but has never meet my daughter because she is always at school when the therapist is working with my son. How can I help my daughter? I was thinking she loves swimming so maybe this is a good time to get her highly involved in something physical (we have her in dance but she is not crazy about it) - she is a content child who loves to sit and read, color, etc., but I want to give her help in her younger years.

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much for all of the advice! I made a few phone calls and found out that testing for low tone is done in the schools. The Occupational Therapist from my daughter's school and I had a nice visit yesterday and she is going to do some observation when we get back from spring break. I figure even if the low tone isn't affecting her "at school" work, it IS affecting our home life as far as getting homework and projects completed, so anything to help my daughter learn effective homework and physical skills could only HELP her in the future. I"m so glad I asked this question!

More Answers

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C.T.

answers from Denver on

Hi H. - It could be very possible that your oldest also has low muscle tone, especially if she hit her milestones late as well. You could have her tested. We had our youngest tested because he also has speech problems. As we were going through the questionnaire, we recognized that our oldest might have some issues as well. (Interestingly, they are extreme opposites in a sensory sense)

My oldest could have benefitted from OT but truthfully, it was just too expensive having them both in treatment every week. He does exercises at home and it's helped all of us. He participates in sports whenever he can - the best choices are ones where he gets a lot of body feedback. ie: basketball, karate, gymnastics. We do a lot of upper body and core strengthening exercises. We bought him a yoga ball chair for his desk, we do a lot of wheelbarrow and crabwalk races and we do the monkey bars alot to increase hand strength. At school he can do "chair pushups" and his teacher allows him to stand at his desk during school work.

by the way - low muscle tone has very little to do with body type or intelligence. My son is very lean and muscular and he excels academically. The exercises have actually helped him to concentrate in school.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

My 4 year old just started OT for low tone. She was slow to hit milestones too and it just hasn't gotten any better. Therapy is going great. How old is your oldest child? The reason I ask is they will continue therapy for many years and it's never to late to ask for an evaluation. The girl that is before us is probably 12 years old. :) Also, they told me that swimming and ballet were the two best activities for my daughter. Swimming is good for overall body strength and ballet would specifically help to make her ankles and legs stronger.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Denver on

My 21 month old son also has low muscle tone, and we were in physical therapy from 6 months until 19 months. He finally started walking at 19 months and the therapist said we could stop coming. I believe that low tone (at least not pathologically low tone) can be genetic. I believe I have low tone, and have no problems. That being said, if your daughter is having trouble concentrating or focusing, she could benefit from an OT evaluation. Some activities might be recommended that would help with concentration, as well as building strength. An OT evaluation could only help and not hurt her, so I would give it a try! Good luck to you, and don't worry! It's so common!

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

My older son is 8 and has poor upper body muscle tone. Our therapist told us that kids work motor control from large muscles to small muscles. Therefore if they have poor muscle tone w/the large muscles it effects their small motor also. I had my son in OT when he was 4 to help with this and we just recently started it again b/c he has a terrible time with handwriting.

This time around they suggested sports that increase muscle tone which include karate, and swimming (I can't remember the third one). He will also be starting OT therapy very soon.

I think that swimming would be great for your daughter. Also, encourage hanging and grasping activities (monkey bars, swinging from bars/rings) to help with her tone also.

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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