Pediatric Physical Therapy for Hypotonia
in Bentonville, AR

Does your child seem to struggle with movements like holding their head up? Do their arms or legs seem a bit floppy, or like they’re always extended at the knees and elbows? These are signs of hypotonia, also known as low muscle tone. For children, low muscle tone can make everyday activities like sitting, crawling, walking, or even playing with friends much more difficult.

Thankfully, our expert physical therapists at No Limits Pediatric Therapy offer proven treatments to help children overcome low muscle tone. We can work with your child on fun, evidence-based physical therapy to build their strength, improve their coordination, and achieve their fullest potential.

What Is Hypotonia?

Hypotonia, or low muscle tone, is a condition where muscles lack the passive tension or resistance they normally have at rest. Muscle tone isn’t the same as strength; it’s an automatic process controlled by the body’s nervous system that keeps the muscles prepared for activity. This means that, even when you’re resting, your nervous system maintains a baseline level of activity in the muscles.

Common Causes of Hypotonia

Hypotonia may happen due to a variety of underlying factors, including:

Genetic disorders (e.g., Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome)
Neurological conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy)
Premature birth or low birth weight
Damage to the brain

Sometimes, however, children are born with hypertonia without a known underlying cause.

How Can Hypotonia Affect Your Child's Development?

If hypotonia is left untreated, it can affect your child’s development and everyday life. Some of the ways it can affect them include:

Delayed milestones, such as sitting up, crawling, or walking
Poor posture and difficulty sitting upright
Challenges with fine motor skills, like writing or holding objects
Increased fatigue during activities
Trouble with balance and coordination
Difficulty with speech or feeding due to weak oral muscles

How Physical Therapy Helps Children with Hypotonia

At No Limits Pediatric Therapy, we create individualized physical therapy programs to help children with hypotonia strengthen their muscles and develop essential motor skills. Our physical therapists work to build core strength, improve coordination, and increase endurance through a variety of play-based exercises and hands-on techniques.

Our treatments may include muscle-strengthening activities, postural exercises, and balance training to help your child gain greater stability and confidence in their movements. We also provide strategies to help your child succeed at home, in school, and during play.

Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming, which means we focus on your child’s strengths while helping them overcome difficulties. We also incorporate play-based techniques to make therapy engaging and enjoyable so your child can develop the skills they need for a future with no limits.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Experts

Are you curious to find out if your child can benefit from physical therapy at No Limits? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our expert team!