Some children or babies may appear to be more floppy than their peers. This is often referred to as hypotonia, low tone or reduced tone. This may mean they experience:
- delays in meeting motor milestones e.g., late to roll, sit, crawl, stand or walk.
- unexpected fatigue when playing.
- difficulty maintaining postures against gravity i.e., sitting at a desk or at the table for dinner, holding postures in martial arts, dance or gymnastics.
- difficulties sitting up during “mat time” or at the table for writing.
- difficulties with fine motor tasks if they have low tone in their hands or fingers.
- reduced endurance and stamina.
Often there is no known cause for low tone- this is called idiopathic hypotonia. Sometimes (but not always) a referral to a specialist developmental or neurological paediatrician is required as there may be an underlying neurological or neuromuscular condition.
At The Kids Place:
- We will assess a child using age-appropriate toys and activities to see what skills the child has and how we can best support and progress them.
- We will grade the skill level of each activity during our sessions to encourage success and build confidence and can teach parents and teachers how to do this too.
- We offer a variety of options to support gross motor development including intensive blocks of therapy (Physiotherapy and
Occupational Therapy), education and home programmes to assist with carryover of therapy into the home environment.
A collaborative therapy approach is important to us. We are able to link in with other healthcare providers, including the public therapy team, as well as kindergarten and school to ensure carry over of goals and treatment advice.