Is Hypertonia in Infants Synonymous with Cerebral Palsy?
When your child suffers from the condition known as hypertonia, they will have difficulty with flexing and movements, rigid muscles, and muscle tension even while resting. Typically, when this condition happens, it happens because the child suffered an injury to their central nervous system. This can happen either during childbirth or even after childbirth depending on the circumstances. In addition, the muscles don’t work right because of how the motor pathways within the central nervous system were damaged. Infant hypertonia can be especially frustrating because of how it requires prolonged medical care and ongoing therapy for proper management of the child.
Does This Classify as Cerebral Palsy?
Many times when a child suffers from hypertonia, the diagnosis for cerebral palsy will follow. There are cases, however, where it can happen due to a variety of other circumstances. An individual can get this condition under a number of circumstances that include:
- Malnutrition
- Stroke
- Lack of oxygen
- Head injury
- Ingestion of heavy metals
- Brain tumors
- Multiple sclerosis
Hypertonia can often impact how easily the joints can move. With hypertonia, even when relaxed, muscles still have some resistance.
For those who have hypotonia, the opposite of the above condition, they will have no resistance in their muscles, which will lead to floppy muscles.
How Does It Happen?
Many times, a birth injury like this will be most closely associated with an injury in the uterus, but there are a variety of causes that can lead to it. If you believe that your child suffered an injury while in the uterus, you should speak with a doctor as soon as possible to get a diagnosis and treatment plan created. An infant that displays some of the symptoms of hypertonia or hypotonia should receive treatment as soon as possible. It is important to understand that the proper available tools are required in order to achieve the greatest benefit of treatment. You want to promote a positive outcome for your child’s future.
One of the CPs
Stiff muscles are frequently seen accompanying CP that there is a specific category under CP. Typically, you could characterize this as someone having rigid muscles, and they will struggle to flex or mobilizing their muscles. Your child might even experience muscle tension while resting.
Experts call this form of CP “spastic CP”, and it has become one of the most common types, making up 80 percent of the cases within the United States. There is also another type of CP known as hypotonia; which involves decreased strength and firmness in the muscles. Knowing the symptoms experienced with the various types of CP may make it easier for you to understand the different types of CP. With floppy muscles, everyday movements can bedifficult.