Why would a baby have high muscle tone?
Hypertonia is too much muscle tone. Babies with hypertonia appear stiff and have trouble moving their muscles. An injury or condition that affects the function of the central nervous system causes hypertonia.
What does having high muscle tone mean?
High tone or hypertonia is increased tension in the muscles which makes it difficult for them to relax and can lead to contractures and loss of independence with everyday tasks.
What does hypertonia look like in babies?
Description. Hypertonia is a condition in which there is too much muscle tone so that arms or legs, for example, are stiff and difficult to move. Muscle tone is regulated by signals that travel from the brain to the nerves and tell the muscle to contract.
Does high muscle tone always mean cerebral palsy?
Cerebral Palsy and High Muscle Tone However, high muscle tone is not always indicative of cerebral palsy. Hypertonia can be the result of any sort of damage to the central nervous system (the brain or spinal cord) such as a spinal cord injury, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.
Can hypertonia in babies be cured?
Can Hypertonia or Hypotonia be Prevented? Currently, there is no way to prevent hypertonia from occurring, especially if it was caused by a birth injury. Hypotonia, however, may be able to be prevented through early diagnosing and treating underlying conditions, unless it developed from brain injury.
Is hypertonia the same as cerebral palsy?
Both have similar origins, but differ in their symptoms. Someone with hypertonic cerebral palsy will exhibit muscle stiffness and spastic movements, whereas someone who has hypotonic cerebral palsy will have a loose, floppy musculature.
How can I help my baby with hypertonia?
Treatment for hypertonia usually consists of different types of muscle relaxant medications and continuous physical therapy. The three most popular medications used to treat the condition are Baclofen, Diazepam, and Dantrolene. Some patients use special injections to directly treat an affected muscle.
Does hypertonia get worse?
If hypertonia is caused by a condition like Parkinson’s, the symptoms can increase as the disease progresses. Mild hypertonia may not cause any significant issues in life. Moderate hypertonia may get worse from falls or joint contractures, which can impact a person’s health.
Can high muscle tone go away?
Muscle tone challenges are physical limitations that don’t go away. Doing nothing about it changes nothing. Depending on your child’s unique needs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even speech therapy are great solutions.