Hypotonia

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Hypotonia

The child (BC) that participated in the video was diagnosed initially with hypotonia to upper extremities and currently to lower extremities. According to Boyt Schell, Cohn & Crepeau (2009, p.691), hypotonia “is a decrease in the sensation of a muscle’s resistance to stretch as the joint is moved through the range of motion and the client’s inability to recruit adequate force to move against gravity”. Hypotonia can result from a variety of central or peripheral causes. It is important to have the proper diagnosis for proper evaluation and treatment.

In the course of this study I recognized there are two types of hypotonia Jan (2007) reports that accurate diagnoses of hypotonia are critical to predict the clinical course, associated manifestations and prognosis of the condition. Jan (2007), talks about two types of hypotonia: central hypotonia and peripheral hypotonia. Peripheral hypotonia is associated with weakness distally in neuropathies or proximal with myopathies. Central hypotonia is more common with worst neuromuscular pathology. The long-term effects of hypotonia on a child’s development depend on the severity of the muscle weakness and the nature of the cause. Clues to diagnosis mentioned in the article include; decreased fetal movements, alertness and responsiveness, weakness with little spontaneous movements, absent or decreased reflexes, sensory loss and other symptoms (Jan, 2007). While interviewing the mother during the video process, she mentioned several of these symptoms that appear to point to peripheral hypotonia. The most important step in the initial neurological examinations is to differentiate between upper and lower motor neuron lesions. The motor examination should also identify th...

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Jan, M. S. (2007). The hypotonic infant: Clinical approach. Journal of Pediatric Neurology, 5, 181-187.

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Westcott, S. L., & Burtner, P. (2004). Postural control in children: Implications for pediatric practice. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 24, 5-55. doi:10.1300/J006v24n01_02

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