Hypotonia is often a sign of abnormality in the case of a newborn
or older infant, and may suggest the presence of central nervous
system dysfunction, genetic disorders, or muscle disorders.
Hypotonic infants rest with their elbows and knees loosely
extended, while infants with normal tone tend to have flexed elbows
and knees. Head control may be poor or absent in the floppy infant
with the head falling to the side, backward or forward.
Review Date: 05/15/2011
Reviewed By: Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Wake Forest School of Medicine,
Department of Pediatrics, Section on Medical Genetics,
Winston-Salem, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
