Weak muscle tone in a child. Muscle hypotonia syndrome in newborns. Signs of hypotension in a baby

Many people know what tone is. But only some parents ask the pediatrician whether the newborn’s muscle tone is okay. There are deviations from the norm both in the direction of relaxation and in the direction of muscle overstrain.

Principles of tone and its deviations

The baby begins to move while in the tummy. The joints and muscles of the formed fetus are designed so that it can roll over, push and feel itself in space due to the flexion and extension of its limbs.

As soon as the child is born, he tries to repeat the movements he makes in the womb. Naturally, this is not so easy for him outside the amniotic fluid. Therefore, the movements of newborns are always jerky, they lack smoothness and coordination. But newborns must have tone. Whether it's normal or not is another matter.

For physical and psychological development, the infant must have adequate muscle tone. This means maintaining minimal muscle tension even in a state of complete rest of the body, for example, in sleep. This is called tone.

When inactive, muscles work (strain) differently. Their intensity depends on the task being performed and the workload. In addition, the younger the child, the more dependent he is on tone. Many mothers note that the newborn constantly tightens his arms and legs - this is normal. In this way, he is trying to recreate his usual intrauterine position, which he occupied for 9 months.

Normal tone muscles in newborns are arms and legs slightly bent and pressed to the body, as well as a head tilted back. The fact is that the increased tone, which persists in a child up to 3-4 months, is higher in the flexor muscles. This is especially clearly expressed in the position of the legs - they are constantly spread apart and half-bent. When you try to straighten them, the muscles provide noticeable resistance. Usually by the age of six months, hypertonicity disappears. And by the age of 1.5–2 years, the child’s tone becomes the same as that of an adult,

A deviation from the norm is muscle relaxation (hypotonicity), increased tension - hypertonicity - persisting even in sleep, and muscle dystonia - uneven tone. Each of these conditions is expressed in its own way, but they all bring discomfort to the baby and require timely treatment.

Types of pathology of muscle tone

Regular examinations with a pediatrician will allow you to timely detect symptoms of tone in newborns and take appropriate measures. The diagnosis must be confirmed by a neurologist, but parents can notice the first signs of abnormalities on their own.

1. Most common increased tone muscles in newborns. This pathology is expressed in the child’s constant restlessness, frequent crying for no reason, and lack or disturbance of sleep. In addition, babies with hypertonicity are extremely excitable, they wake up from every rustle, and can cry in bright light. When screaming, these children often have a chin that trembles. They also eat poorly, and after feedings they regurgitate almost all the milk they suck.

Increased muscle tone in newborns is easy to notice almost from the first days of life: these babies hold their heads well and press their limbs to their bodies. If you try to straighten an arm or leg, you may encounter serious muscle resistance. In addition, with such manipulations, the child often begins to cry. And if you repeat the procedure of extending the limb, the muscle resistance will increase each time. This is precisely the most striking sign of hypertonicity.

If hypertension is not treated in time, it will be noticeable in adulthood. For example, people with increased muscle tone often walk on tiptoes, leaning on their toes, which is why their shoes wear out in front.

Newborns with hypertonicity not only hold their heads well from the first days of life. At the same time, they may suffer from curvature of the neck muscles. This occurs if there was a trauma to the cervical spine during childbirth.

The pathogenesis of tone in newborns may have both physiological and viral nature. For example, if during pregnancy or childbirth the child’s cerebral cortex was damaged, resulting in an increase in intracranial pressure, then from the first days of life the baby may experience perinatal encephalopathy. It is this pathology that can provoke hypertension.

Also, a deviation from the norm can occur against the background of infection of a pregnant woman with various viral infections.

Hypertonicity is diagnosed if muscle tension does not correspond to the child’s age. That is, up to six months, such a picture is the norm, and at 7–8 months it is a pathology.

2. Much more should concern parents weak muscle tone in newborns, called hypotonia. Nevertheless, it is precisely this condition that arouses suspicion the least, but in vain. External calm and problem-free behavior of a child can be pathological.

Children with hypotension, at first glance, seem to be a gift from heaven - they rarely cry, sleep all night long, and during the day they do not cause much trouble, obediently allowing any manipulation to be carried out on them - washing, feeding, dressing. They just have difficulty waking up on their own, do not breastfeed well, often fall asleep during feedings, and do not gain weight.

Hypotonia itself is not a disease. This is a symptom indicating any abnormalities:

• neurological (perinatal encephalopathy);
• neuromuscular (spinal amyotrophy);
• chromosomal (Down syndrome).

Also, decreased muscle tone, especially if it does not appear immediately, may indicate diabetes mellitus, polio, rickets and other diseases.

Still, don't panic. It is quite possible that what parents mistook for signs of hypotension is simply a feature of the child’s temperament. The character manifests itself from the first day of life, so it is possible that the baby simply inherited a phlegmatic disposition from one of his relatives.

3. Dystonia is called asymmetrical or uneven tone muscles in newborns. With this deviation, the baby has signs of both hypertonicity and hypotonicity.

The easiest way to identify muscle dystonia is to place the baby on the tummy. With asymmetric tone, the baby will roll over to the side where hypertonicity is observed. At the same time, his body will bend in an arc from the neck to the foot.

When lying on the back, a child with muscular dystonia will constantly bend the head and pelvis to one side. In addition, limbs with increased tone will be tightened, and those with decreased tone will be relaxed. Dystonia that affects all muscle groups is called generalized. In addition, there is focal dystonia, which develops in one part of the body, for example, the limbs.

In addition, muscular dystonia can be primary or secondary. The first develops against the background of chromosomal abnormalities or on its own, without affecting other organs.

The second is due to a genetic disease - Wilson-Konovalov syndrome, associated with a disorder of copper metabolism. In this case, dystonia is just the tip of the iceberg, hiding serious pathologies in the development of the central nervous system and internal organs.

All these facts once again confirm the need for regular monitoring of the newborn by a pediatrician, as well as postpartum examinations.

Methods for treating muscle tone in infants

If you are concerned about something in your child’s behavior or condition, consult a doctor. If there are clear signs of increased, decreased or uneven muscle tone, insist on a full examination. It's better to be safe than to miss the moment when symptoms begin to progress. Moreover, muscle tone treatment is quite affordable and almost painless for a child if carried out on time.

The main therapy for any type of tone is massage and exercise . But sessions can only be carried out with the permission of a neurologist, otherwise there is a risk of harming the child and aggravating his condition.

For children with hypertonicity, a relaxing massage is recommended, which is carried out in a course of 10 procedures. After the full course, you need to take a six-month interval and then repeat the sessions.

Massage with increased muscle tone should be accompanied by various manipulations: electrophoresis, swimming, therapeutic exercises . The sooner therapy is carried out, the less likely it is that hypertension will leave consequences for the child’s health.

If the problem is not detected in a timely manner, the baby’s condition can become serious. In such cases, various drugs . For example, to relieve spasms and dilate blood vessels before a massage, the child is injected with Dibazol. In addition, B vitamins (B6, B12), most often prescribed by injection, become an auxiliary treatment.

Relaxing massage done through gentle stroking. Movements are carried out both with an open palm and with bent fingers. You can also stroke the baby’s limbs using a palm grip. All movements are upward.

First you need to gently rub the baby's body in a circular motion, gently moving his skin from bottom to top. At the end, you need to quickly but gently shake the baby's arms and legs, carefully moving them to the side. A relaxing massage eliminates patting and chopping movements with the edge of the palm.

Weak muscle tone in newborns can also be treated with massage, but the movements are of a different nature. Muscles need to be warmed up to activate their tone and stimulate growth. Such therapy necessarily involves chopping movements and patting. Almost all massages for hypotension are based on them.

The movements should be upward, quite intense, going from the periphery to the center. But it’s still worth remembering that there’s a baby in front of you and counting on your strength.

For dystonia muscles will have to combine two types of massage - relaxing and stimulating. Naturally, soft stroking should be done on the side where there are signs of hypertonicity, and patting on the side where there are symptoms of hypotonicity.

In addition to massage, it is worth doing exercises with your baby on an inflatable ball - fitball . It’s easier for parents to do them together - dad, for example, will press the baby’s legs with their feet folded together against the surface of the ball, and mom will simultaneously gently pull the baby’s arms.

It must be remembered that parents cannot diagnose and prescribe treatment on their own. Only a neurologist is able to identify areas of muscle tension and prescribe appropriate therapy. It is the doctor who decides whether to supplement the massage with special heating - azokyrite boots.

Signs of abnormal muscle tone can constantly change. Therefore, you need to regularly show your child to the doctor and monitor his condition not only during the treatment period, but also after it.

Many tips for treating tone in newborns belong to the legendary healer Vanga. Some of them are recognized by official medicine. But it is up to parents to decide whether to put them into practice.

For example, the relaxing baths recommended by Vanga will be relevant when hypertonicity and now. They are made with sea salt, pine needles, as well as valerian, motherwort, and sage. After such baths, a relaxing massage will be more effective. The concentration and frequency of baths must be agreed upon with the treating neurologist. It also makes sense to prescribe homeopathic medicines to your child.

At hypotension There are many more additional measures, since this condition is not normal. For example, you can follow Vanga’s advice and rub your child before the massage with a mixture of honey and sulfur (1 cup 10 g). In the spring, you can supplement therapy against muscle relaxation with baths with nut leaves.

For older children (from 2–3 years old), Vanga recommended bathing in sea water, as well as soda, arsenic, bitumen or sulfur hot springs. It is at this age that it is necessary to teach a child to walk barefoot and involve him in active games. Such measures will help eliminate passivity and apathy caused by weakened muscle tone.

Also, if there is hypotension, it is worth feeding the child liquid food, giving him more water, and giving him an oat decoction.

You need to understand that treatment for low or high muscle tone does not end with several courses of massage and medications. For several more years, right up to school, you need to monitor the child’s condition, show him to a neurologist, do preventive massage sessions, give him vitamins and develop him physically.

How to prevent pathology of muscle tone

There are few preventive measures, but they exist. First of all, before conceiving, you need to undergo a full examination and, if necessary, put your health in order. During the gestation period, it is necessary to regularly visit a gynecologist, do an ultrasound, and monitor both your condition and the development of the fetus.

After childbirth, it is worth devoting a lot of time to the physical development of the child: from the second week of life, conduct preventive massage sessions and do gymnastic exercises. In addition, do not ignore preventive examinations with a pediatrician.

And if a child has a violation of muscle tone, do not panic. It is worth remembering that timely treatment eliminates the problem without consequences.

Replies

The baby should be seen regularly by many doctors. They evaluate its development and take action if necessary. Hypotonia in an infant is a diagnosis that is made in the case of muscular dystonia. Parents strive to establish the characteristics of the disease as quickly as possible and begin its treatment. There is no need to panic unnecessarily. To eliminate the disease, it will be enough to follow the doctor’s recommendations and perform the necessary procedures.

What is hypotonicity

Hypotonia in infants is a condition in which weakening of the muscles is observed. At the same time, a person develops tone. The diagnosis can only be made by a neurologist. The muscles are stimulated one by one. Next, you need to carefully analyze the reaction.

The pediatrician should take turns bending the infant's arms. If he is completely healthy, then they will quickly return to their original state. In this case, the baby should not experience severe discomfort. Signs of hypotension in an infant are the absence of a reaction or its severe delay. In this case, his muscles cannot function normally, so it is necessary to carry out a series of physiological measures.

Diagnostics

If hypotonia is suspected, infants are examined through a series of simple manipulations. Based on the responses to physiological effects, a neurologist will be able to draw a conclusion about the general condition of the child.

Exercises are performed in several directions at once:

• Checking the characteristics of steps and support in the legs. To do this, the baby is held lightly and placed on a flat area. In a normal state, he should stand on his full foot and straighten his legs completely. Next, the baby tries to take steps independently. If the muscles are weak, then he will try to pull his legs to his chest as much as possible. The reflex is considered normal only up to two months. After this period, it indicates the presence of pathology. It is during this period that the inspection needs to be carried out.
• You should also try to sit the child in your arms. The manipulation must be performed from a supine position. It is important to use only a hard surface. The doctor holds the baby lightly by the arms and carefully monitors muscle contractions. He should have a feeling of resistance. In this case, the child feels fine. Additional examination should be carried out if weakness or sagging is felt. In some cases, the baby may further protrude his tummy forward. In this case, you feel the absence of tension in the head or back.

Diagnosis of hypotonicity is carried out at an appointment with a neurologist

Parents will be able to determine insufficient muscle development on their own. To do this, you need to carry out the following check at home:

• Hypotonia always manifests itself in the form of muscle inertia. The situation has a negative impact on the child. Such a baby most often behaves calmly and does not like to make unnecessary movements. It is very difficult to disturb his balance and excite him. The baby sleeps almost all the time, is in a lethargic state and performs all actions sluggishly.
• Arms and legs are always in a sluggish state. The palms are often open and very rarely form a fist. If your baby tries to spread his legs 180 degrees, he will not experience any pain or irritation. In a normal state, the limbs should always be in a flexed position. In this case, one can judge the correct muscle activity.
• Often in such a situation, a woman experiences problems breastfeeding. The baby does not respond to the breast and sucks it sluggishly and without much enthusiasm.
• It can be quite difficult for a baby who has been diagnosed with hypotonia to tense the muscles in the neck. Because of this, he cannot fix his neck in a vertical position. Against the background of this pathology, delays in crawling and development skills develop. The baby cannot turn his body and fix himself in this position.

Even if the newborn exhibits each of these symptoms, parents should not rush to a conclusion. It is necessary to immediately visit the therapist's office and get his advice. In this case, it will be possible to select the most effective measures to eliminate hypotension. If they are performed, improvement in the condition can be observed within one month.

Reasons for development

The disease rarely occurs, especially when compared with hypertonicity. It develops under the influence of negative external and internal factors. Decreased muscle tone is the result of disruption of the central nervous system. The syndrome develops under the influence of the following negative factors:

• Labor was difficult, and the baby had asphyxia, hypoxia, or trauma.
• The birth took place prematurely as an emergency.
• Gestation was difficult, and the mother had to suffer a serious illness.
• The woman admitted the presence of bad habits during pregnancy.
• Failure to comply with the basic norms and rules of infant feeding.
• Insufficient weight gain.
• General weakening of the body due to infection or attack by harmful bacteria.
• Developmental pathologies.
• Diseases of a genetic nature.
• Increased levels of vitamin D in the body.

Complications

Treatment should be started in a timely manner. In this case, it will be possible to minimize the likelihood of serious violations. Otherwise, the child may be in an inhibited state for a long time. Posture and other functions of the spine deteriorate significantly. The situation can lead to serious curvature.

However, children who suffered from hypotonia will have increased flexibility and plasticity in the future. To do this, it is important to stop the development of the disease in time. Otherwise, the musculoskeletal system will be greatly weakened. Muscle dystrophy is a serious threat that calls into question the overall health of the baby.

Swimming helps eliminate hypotension

Features of eliminating pathology

To treat hypotension, it is important to identify it in a child in time. The doctor prescribes massage and gymnastic exercises. You should only trust professionals in this matter. Otherwise, even a long course will not give the desired result. Parents can perform a series of procedures on their own. All you need is your hands and a careful study of the basic requirements.

Procedures carried out in water have a positive effect. Thanks to swimming, it is possible to eliminate the disease in a short time. Additionally, it is recommended to gradually lower the temperature. In this case, hardening will also be carried out. The procedure should be abandoned if the baby is not yet 3 months old.

Massage is used as the main method of treatment. It makes up for the lack of stress on the muscles. At the first stage, it is necessary to lightly stroke the arms and legs. It should end with the same manipulations. The child should warm up well during the session. In this case, the massage therapist should pay maximum attention to kneading all parts of the body.

How to do a massage correctly?

For a baby, these manipulations perform the function of a fairly high physical load. As a result, the skin is perfectly stimulated and the muscles are thoroughly warmed up. The session also has a positive effect on the functioning of all internal organs.

It is important to carefully work out your arms and legs. The signal will be delivered to the central nervous system within a short time, and the baby will feel much better. It must be placed on the back or stomach. The choice of position directly depends on the health of the muscles. Massage is carried out to stimulate the functioning of the peripheral nervous system.

To eliminate hypotonicity, massage is necessary

The full course of treatment is at least ten sessions. Their number increases depending on the result obtained. The massage therapist should pay attention to the mood and behavior of the baby. If he is capricious and crying, then this is a sure sign to pause the series of exercises. Perhaps he will be happy to receive them on another visit.

Physiotherapy

Parents at home can perform the following series of exercises:

• Alternately spread and bring together the arms and legs.
• Perform a movement that is typical for a boxer during a game.
• Mommy is also recommended to perform the bicycle with both limbs at the same time.
• Carefully pull the arms up above the body.

Gymnastics and physiotherapy are used to combat the disease.

In some cases, it is advisable to additionally take medications prescribed by a neurologist. During the treatment period, routine vaccinations should be abandoned.

To strengthen muscles, it is advisable to use massage and gymnastics. The result will be achieved only if they are carried out regularly. In some cases, the course of treatment lasts several months. During this period, motor and brain activity improves. Arms and legs become energetic. It becomes much easier for the baby to adapt and learn new skills. The task of parents is to pay maximum attention to their baby and strictly follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

There is such a sad joke: “If your child has not been diagnosed with hyper- or hypotonicity, then you forgot to show him to a specialist.” The entry “muscular dystonia,” that is, increased or decreased tone, is found in the medical card of almost every child of the 1st year of life. The worst thing parents can do in this case is to decide that since everyone has this, then there is nothing to worry about. However, the other extreme - excessive anxiety and panic - will only harm the matter. Here it is most appropriate to adhere to the ancient rule “forewarned is forearmed.”

What is the problem?

The close attention of children's doctors, pediatricians, neurologists and orthopedists to the condition of the newborn's muscles is justified. For a baby, tone is not only the basis of movement, but also an important indicator of the state of the nervous system and general well-being. Disturbances in muscle tone are often just a symptom, an important signal indicating a number of problems. For example, hypertension - increased intracranial pressure - in infants is always accompanied by muscle dystonia.

Of course, they will give you thousands of examples “from real life” when children diagnosed with “muscular dystonia” grew up completely healthy, smart and happy. And it is true. But is it worth risking your child's future? After all, most of the problems are solved in the first months of a person’s life completely painlessly and disappear without a trace.

Any disturbances in muscle tone can cause delays in the baby’s mental and physical development. Children with increased or decreased tone later than expected begin to crawl, stand on their feet, and walk.

A neurologist should make a diagnosis of “muscular dystonia” and determine whether increased or decreased tone is a pathology for each individual child. Sometimes only a doctor can distinguish the disease from the individual characteristics of the child. The task of parents is to contact a specialist at the slightest doubt. This is especially true for children who are at risk. For example, children who were born prematurely, with low weight; “Caesareans” - since a caesarean section always has strong indications; children whose family has genetic diseases.

Many factors matter here: how the mother endured the pregnancy, how old she is, how the birth went, whether the child cried immediately, whether unconditioned, innate reflexes fully manifested themselves and died out in time. Even if it seems to the parents that everything is fine, during the 1st year of the baby’s life it is necessary to show it to a neurologist every 2-3 months.

• Increased or decreased tone can spoil a child’s posture, affect gait, and cause clubfoot.
• Over time, hypertonicity can develop into hyperexcitability. It is difficult for such children to concentrate on any activity, they are extremely inattentive, aggressive, and do not study well.
• Children with advanced low tone often grow up sluggish both physically and psychologically. They are prone to obesity, physical inactivity, are inactive in exploring the world, and also lag behind their peers in development.

Be careful!

The task of parents is to closely monitor the behavior of the baby, because not even the most attentive doctor monitors the child 24 hours a day. You should not draw independent conclusions based on observations - entrust this to specialists! Remember: all babies are different! What is a deviation from the norm for one is just a feature of temperament for another.

Children in the first months of life are characterized by a “fetal position”: the arms are bent at the joints, the fists are at chest level, the legs are also bent and slightly spread apart. The baby does not yet know how to control his movements, but his muscles are actively working. They are in good shape, and this word means “tension” (from the Greek tonos).

The baby constantly moves its arms and legs, can “crawl” across the crib or even roll over (this is why babies should not be left unattended on the changing table). Such active muscle work in newborns is called “physiological tone” - this is the norm. The physiological tone of a newborn is a consequence of 9 months spent in the cramped mother’s belly. You should be wary in the following cases:

• A newborn's legs should be spread approximately 90 degrees. If your hips move wider without resistance, you may suspect decreased tone. Conversely, too persistent resistance may indicate hypertonicity.
• Always monitor the baby’s posture in the crib: if he is spread out like a frog or, conversely, unnaturally compressed into a lump, there is a violation of tone.
• The child behaves restlessly, often cries for no apparent reason, throws his head back, and eats poorly.
• Convulsions, especially at elevated temperatures.
• Delays in mental development: the baby does not smile or gurgle.

Never swaddle your baby tightly, even at night. Stretched legs are a completely unnatural position for a baby, because even in the stomach he is used to moving freely. Many pediatricians note that since “rigid swaddling” has ceased to be widely practiced, there have been significantly fewer problems with tone and neurology in newborns in general.

Massage room

Treatment of muscular dystonia depends on the reasons that caused it. Drug treatment is rarely required. The specialist assesses the baby’s tone, guided not only by knowledge, but also by his own intuition. If there is the slightest suspicion about the doctor’s qualifications, before giving your child strong drugs, contact a specialist you trust. Sometimes the side effects of medications can cause more harm to the body than problems with tone. .

But professional massage is useful and necessary even for completely healthy children. The massage mechanism is miraculous. When exposed to the skin, numerous streams of impulses are sent along the nerve pathways. They reach the cerebral cortex and have a normalizing effect on the entire central nervous system and, accordingly, on the functions of all vital organs.

A good massage therapist (only a special one for children and certainly guided by the doctor’s prescriptions!) will “grope” the problem areas and choose the right set of exercises. As a rule, massage is prescribed to babies after 1.5 months and is repeated several times. On average, 3-4 cycles of 10-15 sessions are enough to forget about tone problems forever.

We only dream of peace

Rest is contraindicated for a healthy child. All the time, except for the moments when he eats and sleeps, the baby should be in motion: for a baby there is no more meaningless activity than lying in bed. Daily exercise is the best prevention and treatment of muscular dystonia. Exercises can be done from the first weeks of life. The exercises are very simple:

• stroking the arms, legs, back (without touching the lumbar region);
• massage of heels, palms, every finger and toe. No special skill required. Gently, with some effort, massage each finger on the legs and arms, heels, and palms. This massage has a beneficial effect on the mood of both mother and baby. It can be done on the changing table or lying next to the baby on the sofa.

By 3 months, the baby can already perform a whole range of exercises - they should be selected and shown by a massage therapist or physical therapy specialist. Exercises on a gymnastic ball are especially useful. Buy a large inflatable ball, carefully place the naked toddler on it (on the tummy and on the back) and, holding the legs and head, roll it down and up.

Various baths are indispensable for correcting muscle tone. You can alternately add sea salt and infusions of various herbs to the water: motherwort, chamomile or a soothing herb. Try also this procedure: put rye bran (they are sold in pharmacies and stores) in a tight bag and put it in a bath, keep it there until the bran swells. Such a bath not only has a beneficial effect on muscles and skin, but is also natural.

Muscular hypotonia is a disease characterized by weakening of muscle fibers. This leads to disruption of the conduction of nerve impulses. In the vast majority of cases, muscle hypotonicity is a consequence of other pathologies, including congenital ones. The disease is diagnosed in childhood, but for a number of reasons there is a risk of developing muscle hypotension in adults.

Muscle hypotonia is not an independent disease, but a pathology that manifests itself against the background of other diseases. The disorder is caused by a decrease in muscle tone, which leads to disruption of the nervous regulation of muscle fibers. However, muscle hypotension syndrome is often described as an independent disease, but always overlaps with other disorders. Isolation of a disorder into a separate disease is due to a whole complex of symptoms that require separate therapy.

Also, the isolation of the disorder as a separate diagnosis is due to the fact that the syndrome of impaired muscle tone is a symptom of a huge number of different diseases. To date, more than a hundred pathologies have been identified that are accompanied by muscle hypotonicity.

Muscle hypotonia can be a consequence of congenital pathologies and anomalies. The disorder may also be a symptom of acquired diseases, for example, sepsis or meningitis in adult patients.

The disease is most often diagnosed in children

Classification and types

Muscle hypotonia is classified according to the reason for its development, location of the lesion and form of its course.

Based on localization, a distinction is made between diffuse muscular hypotension syndrome and local muscular hypotension. With diffuse muscle hypotonia in children and adults, a general disorder in all muscle fibers is diagnosed. The local form of the disease is a lesion of a small muscle group.

Due to development, congenital and acquired forms of the disease are distinguished. Congenital hypotonia in infants is a consequence of developmental anomalies. The disorder develops during the prenatal period of the child’s growth.

Acquired hypotension in children and adults is a consequence of serious illnesses. In most cases, acquired muscle hypotension is associated with damage to the central nervous system, neurological disorders or autoimmune processes. Muscle hypotension can also develop due to infectious diseases.

According to the nature of the onset of the pathological process, muscle hypotension is acute and gradually developing. In the first case, symptoms of muscle weakening occur abruptly, in the second case, muscle weakness increases gradually. At first, there is a slight damage to one muscle group, which progresses. In the diffuse form of the disease, there is a constant worsening of symptoms, up to complete loss of the ability to move the affected muscles.

According to the nature of its course, the disease is divided into 4 types:

• episodic, occurring once;
• intermittent hypotension, in which periods of worsening symptoms are followed by periods of their weakening;
• recurrent, in which hypotonicity may reappear;
• progressive muscle hypotonia, in which the disorder affects new muscle groups, or symptoms quickly worsen.

Treatment and further prognosis depend on the type of muscle damage. The diffuse form of the disease is the most difficult to treat.

Reasons for the development of hypotension

As already mentioned, there are many reasons for the development of muscle hypotension syndrome in a child. Among congenital and genetically determined disorders alone, doctors identify more than 40 types of various pathologies. The most common causes of muscle hypotonia syndrome in a newborn:

• Down syndrome;
• Robinov's syndrome;
• Patau syndrome;
• Niemann-Pick disease;
• achondroplasia;
• spinal muscular atrophy.

Down syndrome is the most common cause of muscle hypotonia

The development of muscle hypotonicity in children in the first month of life is most often a consequence of intrauterine malformations, but not genetic disorders. Possible reasons include:

• cerebellar ataxia;
• hypothyroidism;
• cerebral palsy;
• intrauterine severe hypoxia.

Also, the development of muscle hypotension in a baby in the first days of life may be associated with intrauterine intoxication with drugs that the woman took during pregnancy. Often, fetal muscle hypoxia is caused by psychoactive drugs prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy and anxiety disorders.

The development of muscle hypotension in adults is a consequence of severe diseases and chronic disorders that first appeared in adulthood. Possible reasons include:

• meningitis;
• encephalitis;
• myasthenia gravis;
• sepsis;
• mercury and heavy metal poisoning;
• hypervitaminosis.

Muscle hypotonia in preschool children can be caused by polio, an inadequate response to vaccination, or rickets. Signs of hypotension can also appear against the background of various autoimmune pathologies.

Symptoms in newborns and children

Children with this diagnosis lag behind their peers in their physical development

Muscle hypotonia in infants is characterized by impaired motor activity, reflex activity and delayed physical development. You can suspect muscle hypotonia in newborns based on the following symptoms:

• weak reflexes;
• increased salivation;
• violation of the grasping reflex;
• general flabbiness and muscle weakness.

With hypotension in infants, impaired muscle tone does not allow the baby to hold his head normally. There is weakness of the neck muscles. It is difficult for the child to roll over on his stomach on his own; the grasping reflex is very weak, and therefore the baby cannot hold anything in his hands for a long time. Typically, infants with hypotonic muscles cannot support their limbs normally. When trying to lift the upper half of the body, the baby will rely not on the palms, but on the elbow joints.

At an older age, when children begin to make their first attempts to stand on their feet, children with muscle hypotonia have a very difficult time. The child cannot hold his body in an upright position for a long time; it is difficult for him to grab support with his hands. Even crawling on all fours is accompanied by a lack of coordination of movements due to weakening of the muscles.

Muscular hypotonic disorder in children is always accompanied by developmental delays. Such children grow slower, remember new information less well, and begin to speak later than others. When muscle hypotonia appears at the age of two years, problems arise with the child’s socialization.

Symptoms of the disease in adults

If hypotonicity in infants is manifested by impaired coordination of movements and weakened reflexes, the symptoms in adults are not so pronounced. Most often, hypotension in adults is detected by chance, and people mistake muscle weakness and general weakness for symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Characteristic signs of acquired muscle hypotonia in adults:

• the appearance of weakness throughout the body for no apparent reason;
• severe headaches;
• episodic tachycardia;
• discomfort in the heart area;
• sleep problems;
• change in the amplitude of movement of the limbs in the joint;
• numbness of the arms and legs;
• profuse sweating.

A characteristic symptom of hypotonicity in adults is a change in the amplitude of movement of the limbs. Compared to a healthy person, it increases significantly. Movements in the joints become sweeping.

Often, muscle hypotension in adults is accompanied by symptoms of cardiovascular disorders - pain in the heart, shortness of breath, tachycardia.

Severe paroxysmal headaches do not respond to drug therapy. No matter what painkillers the patient takes, the headache does not decrease.

Sleep problems often appear against the background of muscle hypotension. In this case, a person may suffer from insomnia, or constantly feel the need to sleep. Some patients begin to sleep 10 hours a day, but prolonged rest does not bring relief and constant fatigue continues to bother the patient.

Other than fatigue and headache, there may be no symptoms. The person does not go to the doctor, attributing the ailment to fatigue. This complicates diagnosis and aggravates the course of the disease, since muscle hypotonia begins to progress over time. In especially severe cases, short-term paresis in the limbs develops.

It is important to remember that muscle hypotension is a serious condition that must be treated. The sooner the patient contacts a specialist, the more favorable the future prognosis.

In adults, manifestations of pathology may be limited to a persistent feeling of fatigue

Diagnostics

If you feel unwell, you should consult a therapist or neurologist. The baby must be urgently shown to a pediatrician and pediatric neurologist.

First, the doctor conducts a survey and analyzes the patient’s complaints. Family history and any recent illnesses must be taken into account. Necessary examinations to confirm the diagnosis:

• muscle examination;
• reflex testing;
• computed and magnetic resonance imaging;
• study of the composition of cerebrospinal fluid;
• electromyography.

Sometimes a genetic analysis is additionally prescribed, since muscle hypotension can be caused by genetic disorders. Additionally, the doctor prescribes a general and biochemical blood test.

Why is muscle hypotonia dangerous?

Hypotonia requires timely treatment, otherwise complications may arise. In children, hypotonia causes a violation of the swallowing reflex, incorrect speech production, and problems with posture.

In older age, hypotonicity can lead to curvature of the spine and metabolic disorders. One of the common complications of this disorder is obesity.

Treatment principle

Regular massage improves muscle tone in your baby

Diffuse muscle hypotonia in children is difficult to correct, so at the first symptoms you need to visit a doctor, usually treatment is supplemented with therapeutic exercises.

If a child has hypotension, children are prescribed:

• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• Exercise therapy (for older children);
• drug treatment.

Newborns need massage to normalize muscle tone. Older children are prescribed physical therapy aimed at improving the conduction of nerve impulses into the muscles. To improve posture and normalize cerebral circulation, children are prescribed physical therapy aimed at strengthening muscles.

If you have a speech disorder, you need to take a course with a speech therapist. Children are also given special classes to develop fine motor skills.

It is necessary to treat hypotension in children comprehensively; treatment is also supplemented with special medications. Vitamin therapy is carried out, children are prescribed drugs to increase muscle tone.

Treatment of muscle hypotension in adults is carried out with medication. Drugs are prescribed depending on the cause of the disorder. Typically, patients are advised to take medications from the group of nootropics to normalize cerebral circulation and improve cognitive functions of the brain. As a rule, this helps get rid of headaches.

Additionally, the following may be assigned:

• means for normalizing vascular tone;
• neurometabolic drugs;
• vitamin complexes;
• antibiotics.

Antibacterial therapy is carried out if muscle hypotonia is caused by recent severe bacterial infections. This treatment is also used to identify pathogenic agents in the body. Physiotherapy, including acupuncture, is also indicated for adults.

Preventive measures

There is no specific prevention for the development of muscle hypotension, since it is not possible to predict the development of this pathology. Prevention comes down to following general health promotion recommendations:

• absence of bad habits;
• balanced diet;
• regular physical activity;
• timely treatment of any diseases.

If symptoms of muscle hypotension appear in an infant or adult, it is necessary to seek help from specialists as soon as possible.

Often in children under one year old, such a pathology as muscle weakness occurs; it is most often associated with developmental disorders and with hypoxia, from which the baby suffered during pregnancy. But sometimes muscle weakness can be a sign of a serious illness that requires timely treatment.

Usually, a neurologist immediately detects hypotonicity if it is present, since the baby is developmentally delayed and cannot hold his head up, roll over or walk. Older children may have deformed legs and get tired quickly during physical activity. It is very important to immediately identify the pathology and begin to treat it in order to avoid serious complications in adulthood.

Hypotonicity

Hypotonia is a violation of muscle tone, in which they are always in a too relaxed state. Normally, muscles in both children and adults contract constantly to maintain normal functioning of the body. Thanks to muscle tone, a person can stand and sit, although these positions are static, the muscles still contract.

With hypotonicity, the muscles are weakened, the child cannot sit and stand normally, since the fibers simply cannot withstand such a load. If this condition is not treated, the baby cannot develop normally. In addition, hypotension can also occur against the background of serious illnesses.

Hypotonia in infants usually occurs due to birth trauma or lack of oxygen in the womb. This condition is quite correctable; for treatment, gymnastics, massage, sometimes physiotherapy, and less often drug treatment are prescribed if therapeutic treatment does not produce an effect. It is important to understand that the sooner you start treating hypotension, the faster it will pass, and the fewer consequences there will be.

As mentioned above, weak muscles in a child do not always indicate a serious illness; quite often this is a complication of difficult childbirth and birth injuries, which is treated with massage. But it is worth considering such situations when muscle weakness is a symptom of pathology:

• With myasthenia gravis, a severe chronic autoimmune disease, severe muscle weakness is observed;
• Children with Down syndrome suffer from muscle weakness and problems with their endurance;
• There is a gene pathology, the disease is called Prader-Willi syndrome, in this case the child’s body lacks several genes, he suffers from obesity, hypotension and mental impairment.
• With botulism, bacteria live in the child’s body and produce toxic waste products, which in turn negatively affect the muscle fibers, paralyzing them;
• In severe forms of reactive jaundice, hypotension in infants is also possible;
• In a disease during which collagen production is disrupted, muscles and skin become flabby and weak, the disease is called Marfan syndrome;
• In severe cases of cerebellar ataxia, muscle weakness develops;
• Blood poisoning;
• Excessive intake of vitamin D;
• Muscle dystrophy in older children;
• Rickets is a disease where bones are destroyed due to a lack of vitamin D in the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms generally depend on the diagnosis, but in all cases muscle weakness is observed, the child cannot withstand physical activity. Weakness may occur throughout the body, or may occur only in an affected area, such as when one limb is not working well.

With muscle hypotonia, the child cannot stand on his feet straight; he spreads them to the sides to maintain balance. Also, due to the weakness of the neck muscles, the baby cannot hold his head in a level position for a long time and constantly tilts it.

During sleep, healthy children bend their arms and legs, but with muscle hypotonia the opposite effect is observed - the limbs are straightened along the body, and this position does not cause any discomfort to the child, although it looks quite unusual. This is often observed in infants, because newborns normally have hypertonicity, which causes the fists to clench, and with hypotonicity the arms are straightened.

Also, with muscle weakness, such a sign is observed when a child is picked up, placing the palms in the armpits; in a child with muscle weakness, the arms automatically rise up and he falls down, while a healthy baby remains hanging in the arms of an adult.

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can diagnose any disease. Therefore, parents should not hesitate to visit a neurologist and orthopedist if the child experiences muscle weakness or muscle spasm. In any case, it is necessary to undergo treatment, and what kind of treatment depends on the underlying cause.

To confirm the diagnosis, the patient will be sent for blood and urine tests, and will need to take tests for antibodies. You may also need to undergo an ultrasound, CT or MRI, as well as x-rays.

Usually, to detect muscle hypotonia, an examination by a neurologist is sufficient. The doctor checks the child’s reflexes and capabilities. Children with hypotonia are developmentally delayed and the neurologist immediately sees this.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of hypotonicity. Pathology in infants is treated with physiotherapeutic methods; the small patient is prescribed a course of therapeutic massage to restore muscle tone. As well as gymnastics and physiotherapy to normalize blood circulation and strengthen muscles.

If a serious pathology is detected, then treatment is prescribed taking it into account. In this case, you will need to consult not only a pediatrician and a neurologist, the patient is referred to a cardiologist, endocrinologist, orthopedist, speech therapist and other specialists. It is very important to monitor the growth and development of the child in order to prevent future musculoskeletal disorders.

All drugs for the treatment of muscle weakness in children should be prescribed by a doctor, calculating the dosage individually. Improper use of medications can lead to serious complications and side effects, so self-medication for such pathology is not recommended.

Prevention of muscle hypotonicity in infants lies primarily in a healthy pregnancy. During the planning period, the mother and father should stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking, start eating healthy and balanced, and undergo examination to exclude or cure infections.

During pregnancy, a woman needs to spend enough time in the fresh air, eat right, see a gynecologist at the antenatal clinic, and get tested regularly. If you ensure normal development of the child in the womb, you can avoid many serious pathologies.

The prognosis for muscle weakness in children depends on the diagnosis. Hypotonia caused by hypoxia usually has a favorable prognosis. With proper treatment, everything goes away without a trace, the child recovers completely.

But with diagnoses such as myasthenia gravis, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other severe pathologies, there is no talk of complete recovery. But, if a child is treated, cared for, and developed, then he will become a full-fledged member of society and will live a normal life. The prognosis in this case depends on the parents and their efforts. The more effort they put into the health and development of the baby, the better it will be for him.

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