Low muscle tone in a 5 month old baby. Restoration of muscle tissue in infants with hypotension

Often, in children under one year old, such a pathology as muscle weakness occurs, it is most often associated with developmental disorders and 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 hypotension, if it is present, since the baby is behind in development, cannot hold his head, roll over and walk. In older children, the legs can be deformed, they quickly get tired during physical exertion. It is very important to immediately identify the pathology and begin to treat it in order to avoid serious complications in adulthood.

Hypotension

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

With hypotension, 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, then the baby cannot develop normally. In addition, hypotension can also occur against the background of serious diseases.

Hypotension in infants usually occurs due to birth trauma or lack of oxygen in the womb. This condition is quite fixable, for treatment prescribed gymnastics, massage, sometimes physiotherapy, less often medication, if the therapeutic did not work. It is important to understand that the sooner you start treating hypotension, the faster it will pass, and the less consequences there will be.

As mentioned above, not always weak muscles the child is talking about a serious illness, quite often this is a complication of difficult childbirth and birth trauma, 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, pronounced muscle weakness is observed;
• Children with Down syndrome suffer from muscle weakness and problems with their endurance;
• There is a genetic pathology, the disease is called Prader-Willi syndrome, in this case, several genes are missing in the child's body, he suffers from obesity, hypotension and mental disorders.
• With botulism, bacteria live in the child's body that secrete 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 that destroys bones due to a lack of vitamin D in the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms generally depend on the diagnosis, but in all cases there is muscle weakness, the child cannot withstand physical exertion. Weakness can be observed throughout the body, or it can occur only in the affected area, for example, when one limb does not work well.

With muscular hypotension, the child cannot stand on his feet straight, he spreads them apart to maintain balance. Also, due to the weakness of the neck muscles, the baby cannot keep his head in an even position for a long time, he constantly tilts it.

During sleep, healthy children bend their arms and legs, and with muscular hypotension, they observe the opposite effect - the limbs are straightened along the body, while this position does not cause inconvenience to the child, although it looks rather 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 the child is taken in his arms, placing his 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 orthopedistif the child has muscle weakness or muscle spasm. In any case, it will be necessary to undergo treatment, and which one depends on the underlying cause.

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

Usually, to detect muscle hypotension, an examination by a neurologist is sufficient. The doctor checks the reflexes, the capabilities of the child. Children with hypotension lag behind in development and the neurologist immediately sees this.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of hypotension. Pathology in infants is treated with physiotherapeutic methods, a 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 was found, then the treatment is prescribed taking it into account. In this case, you will need to consult not only a pediatrician and a neuropathologist, the patient is referred to a cardiologist, endocrinologist, orthopedist, speech therapist and other specialists. It is very important to control the growth and development of the child in order to prevent future disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

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

Prevention of muscle hypotonia in infants is primarily a healthy pregnancy. During the planning period, the mother and father should stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking, start a healthy and balanced diet, and be examined to rule out or cure infections.

During pregnancy, a woman needs to spend enough time on fresh air, eat right and be observed by a gynecologist in a antenatal clinic, regularly take tests. If the child is provided with normal development in the womb, then many serious pathologies can be avoided.

The prognosis for muscle weakness in children depends on the diagnosis. With hypotension caused by hypoxia, they usually talk about a favorable prognosis. With proper treatment, everything goes without a trace, the child is fully restored.

But with such diagnoses as myasthenia gravis, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other severe pathologies, they do not speak of a complete recovery. But, if a child is treated, dealt with, and developed, then he will become a full-fledged member of society and will live normal life. The prognosis in this case depends on the parents, their efforts. The more effort they put into the health and development of the baby, the better it will be for him.

Massage (video)

Moms, I am glad to welcome you again on the pages of the beloved online magazine "Beloved Child - Small, Unreasonable". According to a recent tradition, we are opening a new “Temko for a gazebo” - muscle hypotonia in a child.

I will not bore you with medical terminology, causes and effects, but will tell you about my experience in treating this disease from the point of view of a mother who felt all the difficulties “from the inside”. You can familiarize yourself with the medical version of neurological problems, using the example of Dr. Komarovsky, by watching the video below:

How did I encounter this problem?

There are many reasons for hypotension in a child. One of them - birth injury. Unfortunately, this is our case. Who would have thought that the second birth, which proceeded without any complications, could end in a broken collarbone and hypoxia in a child? The baby was quite large 4 kg 200 g. The team of doctors could not cope with the flow of women in labor at that moment, so they accelerated the process of childbirth - and my “baby doll” was simply squeezed out. Here is the result.

2nd day:

4th day:

Already in the delivery room, the baby was given medicine to remove a terrible hematoma on her head. His hands did not work well, there was practically no grasping reflex. The doctors in the maternity hospital did not react to my complaints and answered that everything was fine, and I was too suspicious of a mother. We put 8 out of 10 on Hangar, and I found out about the broken collarbone of the baby by accident. As it turned out, they didn’t even want to include this “small state of emergency” in the map! N-yes. Thank God, that's where the bad stuff ended! On the whole path of recovery, we came across incomparable doctors: humane and very competent in their field!

6th day:

Checked out. A doctor came to our house, replacing the district doctor on vacation, who turned out to be a neurologist. She identified our problem right away - hypotension in infants due to hypoxia. On the seventh day, we started taking a drug that allows us to increase the supply of oxygen to the brain, thereby increasing its activity. At the age of three months, we began to attend massage and at the same time a rehabilitation center, where we were prescribed therapeutic exercises for babies.

Good aunt Inna gives Styopka (3 months) a massage:

Video about baby massage from Dr. Komarovsky:

After a massage session with hypotension (if my memory serves me, then we were prescribed general massage No. 10), we were heading to the rehabilitation center, i.e. treatment was complex.

Our trips to the other end of the city continued until the age of 1 year, with rest intervals of three weeks. Periodically, we were prescribed physiotherapy and medications, we constantly visited a neuropathologist and an orthopedist, and were also exempted from vaccinations. Vaccination began after a year.

Thanks to the early detection of the problem and the right treatment, we restored brain activity, thereby eliminating the occurrence of serious consequences. Today Styopka is 3.5 years old - this is mobile and smart child and despite being overweight as an infant, he rolled over in time, sat up and walked.

SOS: who to contact for help

I gave birth to my first baby in the Mother and Child center in Minsk on a paid basis. Everything went amazingly, leaving behind calmness, confidence and a lot of positive emotions. That's why, going to the second birth on a budgetary basis, I thought that I knew everything, I was confident in my abilities I wanted to give birth closer to home. You know the result of this sad experience.

And here is the third pregnancy. I knew that I would entrust my life and the life of a child only to highly educated specialists, not relying on “maybe”, and decided to go to Mother and Child again.

And now on January 11, "Mother and Child", 4th floor, observation, 12-45 days - the birth is over. The incomparable doctors, the quick decisions of Dr. Natalya Vladimirovna and the help of the midwife Ekaterina Valerievna helped save the life of me and my child.

I have a wonderful boy. I understood that it was not that he was small, no, rather some kind of weak. He was easily frightened, while his whole face began to pound, not just his chin, but his whole body.

I couldn’t get a consultation with a neurologist, we don’t have one at the clinic, and they didn’t give a referral to another clinic, due to the lack of clear evidence. As a result, the child later began to hold his head, did not roll over for a long time and sat down late (8.5 months).

When Egorushka was 7 months old, I sounded the alarm. Doesn't sit. With difficulty and scandals, through the head physician of the clinic, but still knocked out a number to a neurologist, where we prescribed Encephabol, massage, exercise therapy, and referred for consultation regional hospital in the city of Mogilev.

We came for a consultation at the rehabilitation department for children under one year old. We were diagnosed with hypotonicity of the legs and arms with a lag in motor development. The doctor was amazed, saying that the child should be "their client" from 4 months.

I am infinitely grateful to the doctor - Natalya Alexandrovna, for her kindness, amazing patience and tremendous experience working with these children. Analyzes and examinations of narrow specialists, which our own polyclinic did not do, were appointed immediately:

• we had a genetic examination with special analyzes and tests,
• took general tests, biochemistry and an analysis for immunity,
• we passed:
  • ophthalmologist,
  • orthopedist,
  • defectologist,
  • cardiologist,
  • Laura,
  • dentist.

After the completion of the examination, the doctor came to our room, explained everything and reassured us by prescribing the treatment. To the question about possible causes ah, low tone, answered that in our case this may be due to:

1. With the age of the mother. After 30 years, the child absorbs calcium and potassium worse (in the womb);
2. Frequent ultrasound examinations. This area has not been fully explored, so the impact of these studies has not been established for sure;
3. Constant work at the computer. In mothers who constantly work at the monitor during pregnancy, there is a decrease in muscle activity in the future crumbs;
4. Mild rickets- lack of vitamin D in the body;
5. Prematurity of the nervous system at birth, as evidenced by the tapping of all the muscles of the child's face;
6. Large intake of drugs during childbirth- in our case, it was a forced measure of doctors in the process of childbirth.

However, according to the doctor, these are all assumptions. No doctor can say for sure the cause of muscle hypotonia in a child, if it is not associated with an obvious birth injury or more serious diseases, such as cerebral palsy.

Every day, Natalya Alexandrovna examined Yegor, watched the achievements, affectionately speaking to him: “You are my scumbag, scumbag. You can tie your legs around your neck with a bow.

Hypotension manifests differently in different children. however, there are similar points - this is:

• Weak muscle activity of the upper or lower extremities;
• "Looseness" of the joints, when the legs or arms turn out at an unthinkable angle;
• Underdevelopment of the back muscles;
• Lack of oxygen supply to the brain.

Treatment methods and our results

With the joint efforts of doctors Natalya Aleksandrovna and Natalya Sergeevna, as well as an instructor of exercise therapy and massage Natalya Sergeevna, we managed to raise my son to his feet, strengthening all his muscles.

We were able to achieve such an amazing result thanks to the correctly prescribed complex treatment, which included the following procedures:

1. Acupuncture.
2. Taking medications.
3. Massage and exercise therapy.
4. Physiotherapy.
5. Aromatherapy.

A huge role in our recovery was played by the exercise therapy instructor and masseur in one person Natalia Sergeevna. I have never seen such a massage received by children in this center. He is very efficient. It is very difficult to repeat it yourself. Natalya Sergeevna uses special techniques that stimulate weakened muscles. Of course, the “or” in the office was notable, because this procedure is unpleasant, it would be more correct to say that the child is in pain. However, you need to stock up on endurance, watching the suffering of the baby and, having endured these tears, get an amazing result.

After the massage, exercise therapy begins - a set of specially selected exercises. The lesson is built every time in a new way, taking into account the muscle group that will be involved in the massage (massage sessions alternate: arms - back, legs - back).

We were scheduled for two physiotherapy sessions a day. One - we went through it ahead of time, about 1.5-2 hours before the massage, and the second - paraffin - immediately after the massage.

Of course, during the day the child was tired both emotionally and physically. But trust me, these doctors know what they're doing.

Today my Egor is 1 year and 4 months old. We took the first steps at 1.1 months, but we started only a week ago. Someone will say that it's too late, but in reality, everything is within the normal range. Maybe a little later than the rest, but, over time, this difference in development will even out completely and disappear altogether.

Conclusion

“Keep working with your child: take massage courses, walk for a long time, visit a neurologist and an orthopedist periodically, take vitamins and just lead an active lifestyle, and when the baby grows up, be sure to send him to gymnastics or choreography. Future Olympic champions grow from such children!”

So, mothers, respond in a timely manner to all the signals of the child, seek advice from experienced specialists - and everything will definitely be fine. The main thing is not to lower your “paws” and believe: believe in doctors and in your child! Be healthy!

Normal muscle contractility ensures harmonious physical and mental development child. Muscle tone in infants can be physiological and pathological. Physiological conditions include increased muscle tone in the first weeks after birth. Further, the tone should be normalized. If a child still has increased muscle tone two weeks after birth, this phenomenon is called hypertonicity and belongs to the category of pathological conditions.

Hypertonicity of the muscles of the newborn is an understandable phenomenon. Inside the womb, the child was in a shackled state. His limbs were tightly pressed to his body, there was no room for movement.

After birth, the baby's body gradually gets used to the new conditions. During the first two weeks, the muscles gradually relax, the limbs come to a new state. However, if the baby has CNS lesions of varying severity, the brain will not be able to fully control muscle activity. In this case, the state of the muscles will deviate from normal.

Preservation of hypertonicity during the first month of life should be the reason for the examination of the child by a neurologist.

Age norms

The following development of the situation is considered normal.

Pathology can be suspected from birth. Problems with the central nervous system are often expressed in the syndrome of muscle hypertonicity. In such children, all movements are constrained, the dilution of the lower extremities is no more than 45 o. The arms and legs are firmly pressed to the body, and the fingers cannot be unclenched.

What should alert

Hypertonicity syndrome prevents further development child, the formation of joints and ligaments is disturbed. Preservation of the state can lead to impaired motor skills, motor activity and the formation of the spine, posture.

If after the first month of life, muscle hypertonicity in an infant persists, in the future it has the following symptoms.

1. The child is restless, sleeps poorly, wakes up in less than an hour, and cries frequently.
2. The baby burps profusely after every meal.
3. During sleep, the child arches its back and throws back its head. This is feature for hypertension. At the same time, his arms and legs are bent and pressed to the body.
4. During a tantrum, the child is tense and bends. In a nervous state, trembling of the chin is noted.
5. The baby is able to keep his head in an upright position from birth.
6. When breeding the legs to the sides, a strong muscle tension is felt. When you try again, the tension intensifies. The child resists, protests with a cry.
7. In an upright position, the baby does not rest on the surface with the whole foot, it stands on its toes.

The existing signs of hypertonicity should encourage parents to seek advice from a neurologist.

On examination, the doctor reveals the presence or absence of certain reflexes in the child and their compliance with the age norm.

1. Walk reflex. In an upright position, the baby tends to take steps. Normally, this ability disappears after 2 months of age.
2. Symmetry of reflections. In the supine position, the child's chin is pressed against the chest. At the same time, the behavior of the limbs is observed - flexion of the arms and extension of the legs should occur. When the head is tilted to the right, straightening of the limbs is observed with right side and tension on the left. When you turn your head to the other side, everything happens exactly the opposite. This reflex should disappear after 3 months.
3. The ability to tone. In the prone position, the baby should tighten the limbs. In the supine position, the arms and legs are relaxed. After three months, the ability disappears.
4. When examining a newborn, the doctor places the child on his arm face down. In this position, the baby should experience contraction of the arms and relaxation of the legs. The head and back should normally be in a straight line.

Parents can detect symptoms on their own. If they suspect a violation, they should consult a doctor. A neurologist will be able to determine the presence or absence of a diagnosis and establish its type.

Nature of violations

Muscle tone can be either increased or decreased. Sometimes there is an imbalance - a combination of the first and second. In other words, increased tone of the muscles of the arms and reduced tone of the lower extremities may be present at the same time, or vice versa. This symptom is called dystonia.

With asymmetry, muscle hypertonicity occurs only on one side. This condition is also called torticollis. The child is placed in a prone position and viewed from the back. With asymmetry, the head is turned towards that half of the body where hypertonicity is manifested. On the same side, there is a bend in the back and tension in the arms.

Hypotension is also considered a violation. This phenomenon has symptoms inverse to hypertonicity, manifests itself in lethargy and impaired motor activity.

Muscular hypertonicity and hypotonicity may not appear systemically, but in separate parts of the body. In this case, there is a decrease or increase in muscle tone only of the arms, legs or back.

Violation muscle tone is not an independent disease, but indicates other, more serious pathologies of the nervous system. That is why the symptoms of hypertension should not be ignored. When a child's syndrome is detected, it is necessary to comprehensively examine it. In this case, an ultrasound of the brain is done, and in rare cases, a tomogram.

Possible reasons

The causes of CNS damage can lie both in problems associated with pregnancy and in complications during childbirth.

The list of possible causes of CNS damage in a child that caused a violation of muscle tone:

• infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy;
• wrong lifestyle of a pregnant woman;
• taking medications by the mother during pregnancy;
• Rh-conflict of the future mother and fetus;
• injuries received by the child during childbirth;
• genetic incompatibility of parents;
• unfavorable environmental situation.

The presence of these factors can only indirectly confirm the presence of a symptom of hypertonicity in a child.

Treatment should be aimed not only at correcting muscular dystonia, but also at identifying and eliminating the underlying cause that caused the condition.

Methods of treatment

In the treatment of muscle tone disorders, non-drug methods are primarily used:

• massage techniques;
• water procedures(bathing in herbal infusions of valerian, motherwort, sage, excluding diving);
• gymnastic exercises, with the exception of dynamic gymnastics;
• physiotherapy;
• osteopathic techniques.

When appointed medicines those who are able to improve cerebral circulation are selected, to establish metabolic processes and reduce muscle tension.

Minor violations can hide serious causes. The harmonious development of the child should spread in all planes. Deviation in one area may lead to a violation in another area. Alarming symptoms of changes in muscle tone should not be ignored. On examination, the doctor will be able to determine in which direction to move on, what examination and treatment the child may need.

Concept. This pathology implies reduced muscle tone. Flaccid and decreased muscle tone is not considered a disease that requires treatment and is classified only as a condition of the newborn, which must be corrected by performing special exercises and massage sessions.

As a rule, hypotension in infants can occur against the background of diseases such as poliomyelitis, muscle atrophy, congenital myopathy, botulism, etc. Many parents are forced to hear from doctors about this diagnosis in their baby, which often scares moms and dads.

The most common causes of low tone in infants can be:

• insufficient blood supply in children as a result of birth trauma;
• malnutrition in children with signs of reduced body weight;
• chromosomal and hormonal imbalances, such as Down's disease;
• muscular dystrophy;
• insufficient or unbalanced nutrition of the child in the future;
• some transferred diseases that cause depletion of the child's body.

Signs and characteristic manifestations

Almost all parents know how hypertonia manifests itself in infants. These are, first of all, strongly compressed fists. Few people know what symptoms hypotonia accompanies, since this deviation from the norm of muscle tone is much less common in practice.

In a newborn, you can observe relaxed hands that lie calmly with relaxed and open palms.

As for the legs, they are fully opened to the sides during the lying position of the child, practically forming a turn angle of 180 degrees. However, he does not experience any discomfort while lying in this position.

Also, with muscle weakness, the normal process of sucking and swallowing food is disrupted. The child may fall asleep several times during the day. In some cases, there are signs of delayed motor development.

Babies do not cause their parents almost any problems. They cry a little, move a little, sleep more often than others, which should alert them.

What are the treatments

The main means of treating hypotension in infants are massage and special physical exercise. Treatment is usually carried out by a pediatric neurologist, which is prescribed after a thorough examination and confirmation of the diagnosis. According to the severity of the child's condition and individual features the body is assigned a certain set of exercises and the number of massage sessions, to be carried out by a specialist.

Complex correction of hypotension, with which you can achieve good results, involves the following procedures:

• acupuncture;
• massage course;
• physiotherapy procedures;
• aromatherapy, etc.

Massage and exercise are very important

Massage with hypotension is the main method of correction. It should be carried out by an experienced massage therapist as prescribed by a doctor. In this case, it will be aimed at stimulating muscle work and normalizing trophism. You can activate the general condition of the baby with the help of moderately intense stroking, rubbing, pinching, tapping and kneading the muscles of the arms, legs and back. Their implementation should be carried out with active and rhythmic movements. When performing a massage, the child periodically changes the position of the body.

Unlike massage, which is prescribed for increased muscle tension, in this case, massage movements should be more impulsive and deep. With the hands and phalanges of the fingers, the masseur slightly presses on certain parts of the muscles and can perform acupressure of bioactive points. This will effectively stimulate muscle tone.

The intensity, duration and number of sessions is prescribed by the doctor individually. In most cases, the course of treatment is 10-15 procedures, after which progress becomes noticeable. If massage manipulations cause discomfort in the baby, in which he is naughty or cries, then it is better to postpone them until a more opportune moment.

To restore muscle tone, massage can be quite effectively supplemented and combined with a special set of exercises. Gymnastics is aimed at strengthening the weakened muscles of the crumbs.

The most common exercises are the following:

• crosswise - the mother spreads the child's arms to the sides and brings them together, turning the left to the right and the right to the left;
• boxing - when the mother performs movements resembling boxing with the child's arms;
• pulling up - parents pull the baby by the handles up and down, and others.

Possible consequences and prognosis

If you do not pay attention to hypotension and do not treat this condition, then it can subsequently affect the physical development of the baby. Babies with this diagnosis begin to walk later than others. All new motor skills are given to them much harder due to muscle weakness.

Children who have problems in infancy with reduced muscle tone may later develop excessive plasticity. The flexibility of their legs and arms is simply amazing.

The child's posture may also suffer. This becomes especially noticeable in the transitional period of development. As a result of this pathological development, they may be more likely to be diagnosed with curvature of the spine.

If hypotension is more pronounced, it can even affect the general physical development child, slowing him down and delaying. In this regard, it will be quite natural to pay attention to hypotension even in the early stages of the development of the baby. If you organize the care of such a child in a timely and correct manner, you can count on a 100% favorable prognosis.

All caring parents need to pay attention to the health of their child. At the slightest suspicion of hypotension, the baby should be shown to a specialist. Thus, you can achieve good results in the correction of muscle tone and keep the child healthy. After a session of massage and exercises, the child will be able to completely catch up with his peers in physical and psychomotor development and not have problems with unpleasant consequences in the future.

Hypotension in infants is a common occurrence. Many parents start to panic when the pediatrician makes such a diagnosis. For the speedy recovery of the child, it is necessary to find the cause, undergo an examination. After that, the attending physician selects the optimal treatment option, which must be strictly adhered to.

In the mother's belly, the child assumes the fetal position. In this case, the limbs are in a bent position, the fingers are clenched into a fist. After birth, muscle hypertonicity is observed for several more months. But the arms, legs can be easily straightened, the cams unclenched.

Hypotonicity in infants is manifested by a weakened muscular state. Most often, the diagnosis is made after the absence of muscle responses to their stimulation or exposure to foreign objects.

The pediatrician must bend the baby's arm. If he has a healthy muscle tone, then in response he will straighten it and take a position that is convenient for him. In the presence of a disease, the reaction does not occur at all or after a certain period of time. This is due to the inability of the muscles to function properly.

Signs of hypotension in infants are expressed by insufficient tension of muscle tissues. He becomes lethargic, almost always the limbs are straightened.

For a long time, you can observe a reluctance to move or roll over.

Lethargy is considered the main manifestation of the disease. But in some cases, it is not immediately possible to diagnose it.

Parents may complain about problems with breastfeeding - or suckle inactively.

Each feeding is given to him with difficulty - weakened facial muscles make it difficult for the sucking reflex. He suffers from a lack of muscle tension, which prevents the head from being raised to a vertical position. It is difficult for a child to learn to crawl, walk or take objects in his hands.

When the baby begins to make the first attempts at walking, for balance, he instinctively uses the legs bent at the knees. A sick child tries to put them as wide as possible. In addition, he can notice the prolapse of the tongue, intermittent breathing, drooping lower jaw.

10 causes of weak muscle tone in a child

Bad habits during pregnancy adversely affect the development of the fetus

Problems with the central nervous system and blood supply of the body lead to reduced tone muscles in the chest.

It is slightly less common than hypertonicity. But at the same time, it has its own characteristics of occurrence.

1. labor activity occurring with a lack of oxygen, suffocation, trauma to the fetus;
2. premature birth;
3. some diseases that a woman suffered during the period of gestation;
4. maternal abuse during pregnancy and nicotine;
5. disturbed diet of the baby;
6. low birth weight of the fetus;
7. weight loss after infectious diseases;
8. abnormal intrauterine development of the fetus;
9. hereditary diseases;
10. excess vitamin D in the body.

Possible Complications

Treatment of muscle hypotonia in children does not tolerate delay. Otherwise, there may be serious consequences. For example, its development after birth may be inhibited. He later than his peers begins to hold his head, crawl or sit. The disease can lead to curvature of the spine or weakening of posture.

Lack of treatment provokes weakening of the musculoskeletal system, the appearance of muscular dystrophy. In children who have been ill with hypotension, in the future, excessive flexibility and plasticity are noted.

Treatment

Muscular hypotension in newborns can only be detected by highly qualified specialists: a geneticist, a pediatrician, a neuropathologist, a cardiologist, an orthopedist, a pediatric physiotherapist. An inexperienced doctor can only harm the health of the baby with a long and ineffective treatment.

Therapy of the disease consists of special gymnastics and massage. At first, the procedures should be carried out under the supervision of professionals, but after obtaining the necessary skills, parents can do this on their own.

In the case of hypotension, a drug is prescribed, the intake of which contributes to the proper growth of the child's muscle tissue and stabilizes the development of the nervous system.

Massage

Massage with hypotension should be carried out using high physical activity. This leads to stimulation of the skin, heating of muscle tissue.

In addition, the procedures favorably affect the work of all internal organs.

Massage movements of the limbs and the whole body have a positive effect on nervous system. Depending on the condition of the child, it must be laid on the stomach or back. It is very important to ensure that all parts of the body are involved in the procedure.

The duration of one session is approximately ten minutes.. If necessary, the attending physician can increase the time. Massage movements begin with the fingers, slowly moving to the surface of the back. In this case, it is necessary to slightly press on certain parts of the body in order to stimulate bioactive points.

During the session, the muscles are worked out by rubbing, stroking, light pinching, tapping. In the video you can see how to massage a child, including with neurological problems.

In the process of massage, it is necessary to monitor the behavior of the baby. If he behaves restlessly, then the session must be rescheduled for another time. Some actions may bring him discomfort. In this case, you should consult a doctor. He will be able to pick up other equally effective movements.

Physiotherapy

The famous doctor Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky considers therapeutic exercises for hypotension in infants effective method treatment. In addition, water procedures have a positive effect on the work and strengthening of all muscle groups.

They can be combined with contrast hardening. But the sessions must be strictly controlled by specialists. What water temperature should be when bathing a baby - read.

Some gymnastic exercises with muscle hypotonia in infants can be performed independently:

• The breast is placed on the back. The handles are first spread to the sides, and then the right one is turned over the left and vice versa.
• In the same position, the child is taken by the upper limbs, slowly bent and unbent at the elbows.
• Taking the baby by the hands, you need to raise him to a sitting position. This exercise is done slowly and carefully so that the muscles have time to tighten.
• The legs gently twist, simulating cycling.
• The lower limbs need to be straightened and the “scissors” exercise should be done, slowly gaining amplitude.

In specialized institutions, a large rubber ball (fitball) is used for treatment, which has a beneficial effect on the muscles:

• The baby is placed on the back and, holding the tummy, make jumping up and down movements.
• The child is placed in a prone position. The ball is gently rolled back and forth. The exercise is repeated until the baby begins to bend the legs when moving forward.

These exercises must be done daily in conjunction with massage. This will allow for a short time restore muscle tone - legs and arms will become stronger, the child will begin to hold his head.

Not only massage and therapeutic exercises can improve the condition of the baby. In some cases, the doctor may advise you to undergo physiotherapy procedures and a drug course of treatment.

Favorably, the strengthening of muscle tissue is influenced by water procedures, which should be carried out only by a highly qualified specialist. Outdoor activities must be mandatory. When to start walking with a newborn in winter and what rules should be followed - the topic.

Prevention

Preventive measures for muscle hypotonia in infants should begin even during pregnancy planning. Parents need to eat properly and balanced, refuse alcoholic beverages, nicotine. An important role during this period is played by a complete examination, which is aimed at identifying genetic and infectious diseases.

After birth, the baby needs periodic comprehensive medical examinations, consultation with the local pediatrician at the slightest change in behavior. Daily exercises, swimming will help to maintain the health of the baby, strengthen the muscles.

To prevent the appearance of hypotension in a child, it is necessary to develop fine motor skills. This will allow not only to concentrate the attention of the baby, but also to strengthen the muscle tissues of the limbs. For classes, you can use mosaic, plasticine, various educational games with fingers.

Particular attention should be paid to the nutrition of the baby. The attending physician, when compiling a daily menu, should take into account the characteristics of a sick child. After all, with food, he receives most of the nutrients and vitamins that are necessary for proper growth and development.

conclusions

According to Komarovsky, muscular dystonia in infants will not lead to serious complications if the optimal treatment is chosen in time. Parents, for their part, must provide the baby proper care surround him with care and love.