Hypotoneus in infants: signs and treatment

Many parents of babies begin to worry when a neurologist at a scheduled admission puts a baby diagnosed with a "hypotonic". Of course, it is not pleasant in this, but it is not necessary to panic too early. You should find out the possible reasons for this condition, go through the necessary examinations, and if the diagnosis is confirmed, develop the optimal treatment option and adhere strictly to this plan. Many doctors believe that this phenomenon can be a feature of physiological development, and the earlier the parents start correction, the faster they will get rid of this problem.

What is the hypotonus in a young child?

The hypotonicity of the muscles in the infant is a weakened muscle state in the case when tension should arise. The neurologist puts this diagnosis to such kids who do not have a reaction when they act on the muscles. For example, when the doctor at the infants flexes her hands, then in normal muscle tone they straighten back and return to a position that is comfortable for the newborn. If the baby has a hypotonic, then there will not be such a reaction, or it appears only after a while. This weakness of muscles is explained by the fact that they can not normally contract.

How is the hypotension revealed?

When you visit a neurologist, the hypotonus in a baby is easily diagnosed with the help of certain manipulations with the baby. Following actions of the doctor are directed on revealing deviations of congenital physiological reflexes:

• Stepping reflex and the reaction of the foot support. The neurologist takes the baby and puts it on a hard surface. The pectoral woman, when supported on a full foot, should straighten herself on the legs and take steps, as during walking. With hypotonia, the baby is not able to straighten his legs and walk, he is likely to bend them. Normally, such a reflex exists for up to two months, after which it fades away.
• Sitting by the handles. The throat is laid with his back on a hard surface, and, holding his wrists, they try to lift him to the "sitting" position. The kid himself will begin to tighten the handles with the help of muscle contraction, and the doctor feels this resistance. With hypotonia, muscle weakness develops, and the baby sits on the handles, his stomach begins to protrude forward, the head weakly restrains on the neck, and the back is rounded.

Independent detection of hypotension

Parents can find out for themselves whether there is a hypotone in the baby. To do this, it is enough to carefully observe your child. This pathology affects the overall condition of the baby. It can be seen that the baby is very calm, quiet and rarely gets into an excited state. At the same time, he sleeps a lot, and during wakefulness he is characterized by slow and sluggish activity.

Also, parents should pay attention to the child's posture during sleep. If there is a suspicion of hypotension in the baby, its symptoms in this case will appear as follows: arms and legs are straightened and relaxed, palms wide open, and should be collected into a cam. Straightening the legs to an angle of 180 degrees does not cause him any discomfort. At a normal tone, the palms and limbs of the child are slightly bent, because this is facilitated by muscular activity.

With a pathological condition of the muscles, the baby, who is breastfed, may not take the breast well or refuse it altogether. A child with this diagnosis hardly strains the neck to fix the head, it is difficult for him to learn to crawl and hold objects, and it is also almost impossible to perform turning and sitting.

If the parents have noticed such signs of a hypotension, then in this case it is necessary to contact the district therapist. The received consultation and exception of a serious pathology will allow them to calm down and take necessary measures on improvement of such condition at the kid.

Causes

Hypotonus in infants is much less common than hypertension, and the reasons for this may be different. Weak muscle tone is directly related to the functioning of the central nervous system, as well as blood supply to the body. This pathological condition occurs for the following reasons:

• Complicated labor with asphyxia, hypoxia and trauma;
• Severe pregnancy, women's diseases;
• Emergency childbirth;
• The mother has bad habits;
• Small body weight at birth;
• Developmental defects;
• Improperly organized nutrition of the newborn;
• Loss of body weight after infectious and infectious diseases;
• Genetic diseases;
• Consuming a large amount of vitamin D.

Consequences of muscle weakness

Hypotonus of the legs of the baby, like all other parts of the body, is manifested by a weak tension in the muscles. It is necessary to start treatment of such a pathological condition in a timely manner, since in the future serious violations can occur. The development of the baby due to hypotension can be strongly inhibited, the probability of the curvature of the spine and the violation of posture is great. Those who have weakened muscle tonus in childhood are characterized by increased plasticity and flexibility, and further progression of such a disease leads to a strong weakening of the musculoskeletal system with the likelihood of complete dystrophy of the muscles.

Methods of treatment

To correct the violation of muscle tone, the neurologist prescribes massage and special physical exercises. Usually, the treatment of hypotension in infants involves a set of procedures that are selected individually, given the degree of damage to muscle fibers. Thus, the methods of treating a decreased tonus in a baby are as follows:

• Physical therapy;
• Acupuncture, which helps achieve a lasting positive effect;
• physiotherapy;
• Phytotherapy, which is represented by herbal baths, rubbers, compresses on the joints.

If you clearly follow all the medical recommendations, then after three months the baby's health improves significantly. He begins to move more actively legs and handles. Massage and gymnastic exercises for the first time should be carried out by a specialist in this field. Subsequently, parents themselves are able to overpower such procedures and implement them at home.

Hypotonus of the hands of the baby, as well as other parts of the body, helps to remove the gymnastics performed in the water. Swimming most favorably affects weak muscles, because all muscle groups begin to be involved.

Massage techniques

It is very useful for a child to perform muscle massage, as the stimulation of the work of each organ occurs. Thanks to such a therapeutic procedure, there is a strong influence on the central nervous system. During its carrying out it is necessary to change a position of a body of the kid to involve all accessible places. Performing a massage with a hypotone in the baby, it is necessary that he lay on his stomach and on his back.

His movements the masseur should start from the fingers of his hands, and ends with an active study of the back. Hands and phalanxes of fingers specialist slightly presses on certain areas of muscles, thereby stimulating bioactive points. During the procedure, muscle tissue is worked through by rubbing, stroking, tingling, tapping. An experienced masseur is able to carry out a pinpoint action on each muscle.

The recommended course of massage is 10 procedures, but if necessary, their amount increases. It is also important to follow and react to the baby during its conduct. If he begins to worry much, then, most likely, the massage delivers him very unpleasant sensations, and therefore it is better to postpone it indefinitely.

Gymnastic Exercises

If the hypotonicity of the baby has been diagnosed, exercises to restore muscle tone can strengthen the weakened muscles of the baby. In combination with a massage, such a gymnastics guarantees a positive effect. The most common are the following exercises:

• Criss-cross - the arms of the baby should be diluted to the sides and brought together, turning right to the left, and left to the right.
• Boxing - you need to take the crumbs in your hands and alternately or simultaneously bend and straighten them in front of the baby. Thus, the muscles are strengthened.
• Pull-up - you need to take the baby's hands and gently move his sitting position. Movements should be slow so that the muscle tension occurs and they start working.
• Bicycle - you should turn the legs of the baby, imitating riding a bike.
• Dilution of the legs - it is necessary to cross the lower limbs of the child and dilute them to the sides, with a gradual increase in amplitude.

When performing the above actions, the child's state improves quickly enough.

Conclusion

Careful parents will necessarily pay attention to the health problems of their baby. If there is a suspicion of hypotension in infants, it is necessary to show it to the doctor. Timely treatment begun allows the child to catch up with his peers in psychomotor and physical development and in the future not have any health problems.