Physio for hypotonia?

[chonky]

Hi. Does anyone know much about how effective physio is for helping hypotonia? My 3.5 month dd is hypotonic, and is due to start physio for it, but I can find very little info. about treatment for hypotonia. We're seeing the physio next week, so I guess I can ask her then, but it'd be nice to know a bit more about it before then IYKWIM.
Thanks also to everyone who replied to my last post about her being slow-to-see, sorry for the delay in not saying thanks but we ended up having a hospital stay extended from 24hrs to 5 days so by the time I escaped the post had been & gone!

my dd 21 mths has noonan syndrome (quite mildly)which it turned out includes a degree of hypotonia, we only really noticed it with her not sitting conventionally, preferring kneeling to the usual upright sit, also crawling on her belly rather than the 4 point hands and knees, and latterly not walking although cruising confidently.
She has hypotonia most pronounced within her lower back and stomach and her arms.
We did seek and were referred to physio, our physio diagosed which areas were deficient and gave us exerceises to assist, although with a 3.5 mth old I amagine a lot of those would be stomach based to strengthen the back and abs.
Within days of practising she sat properly of her own accord, walked across the kitchen unaided (once then reverted back to crawling) and also at 20 mths adopted 4 point crawling! So never too early I would say... You can do so much at home, with their guidance and help.
I will read back and check your other postings Chonky...

also swimming is excellent chonky, dd adores it and has come on leaps and bounds since hitting the water...

Just wondering Chonky what tests or diagnosis you've been given for your dd? What do they think could be causing these issues? Having been through the wringer with my dd early on in her life, getting a dignosis and proper info helped us tremendously.
Hope you've got good support etc, where abouts are you getting your dd seen?

hiya chonky, plenty of good advice from piffle here already, just wanted to suggest that you might want to get hold of this book - Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome. Now I know that your dd does not have DS, but children with DS also have hypotonia so this book is really all about gross motor skills and physio exercises for hypotonic kids, not just those with DS. It's full of sequences photographs showing you exactly how to do the exercises, and is very readable and easy to use.

Hi, thanks for that. So far dd has just been diagnosed with the DVM & being hypotonic. It's possible that the hypotonia is environmentally caused i.e by her not having been able to see for the first months of life, we just don't know. She's being seen at Brum Kids' hospital, who've been great. So far we've had tons of tests, with nothing abnormal showing except for a delay in vision and a slightly smaller corpus caullosum than average (part of the brain that sandwiches the two hemispheres together). The smaller CC could cause developmental delays, but at the mo they don't think it's a factor. We have gone through the wringer emotionally though, and still are, with the tests. I think with dd it's going to be largely wait and see, but unfortunately I wish I could have the 'crystal ball' answers and know a bit more about the future for her. I guess I just need to try and take one day at a time, and she'll sit-up, roll etc when she's good & ready to (it'll make reaching her milestones special ).
I'll buy the book, cos if I can be doing something to help her more it would help me.

Hi there, my daughter too is undiagnosed, she has hypotonia and a developmental delay. She is now 3 and a half and has had regular physio since birth! There are 2 differing and at times conflicting schools on physio, generally the local NHS physio will have some sort of Bobath training. Alternativley there is the conductive approach - this is the approach we use with our daughter. If for whatever reason you are not 100% happy with the hospital physio, then find out more about conductive education. The leading centre/school is in Birmingham. Often people think that they only take kids with CP, this is not the case, as they see hypotonia as something they can work with and help. Good luck with your physio

Chonky you are right on that!! When they do hit their milestones, it does make it more special because of the struggle they make getting to them.
I adore my dd's fortitude, she is tiny, not strong but by golly she works hard and is one determined little dumpling.
I know with a lot of issues such as your dd's are wiat and see, it was also the case with us too, as the degrees of NS are so wide ranging, even given that dd is mild, she still has had her struggles, but you do make breakthroughs and adjust your expectations accordingly.
She sounds like a little gem xx

The physio at the hospital commented on how determined dd was - as you say about your dd Piffleofagus what she lacks in strength she makes up for in willpower! It makes me want to puff up my feathers with pride, as I expect it does you. You are so right about adjusting your expectations. I have found it quite hard to to be honest, but I realise that it's far kinder on myself & more importantly my dd if I do.
Thanks too for the info. Mulsey. We'll see how we go but if we feel as though we're getting nowhere then we'll see if we can get a place there.
I think dd's diagnosis is currently a 'God only knows' diagnosis, as nothing is clear. However it really helps me having MN. I just wish I got to meet you all personally rather than just virtually .
Seeing the local paed tomorrow morning so will let you know how I go.....