Definition: Hypotonia means low or decreased tone of the skeletal muscles. Normally, muscles in the body have a certain amount of tension or tone in them, even at rest. Someone with hypotonia does not have this normal tension. A baby with hypotonia, like in the picture, seems floppy like a rag doll and has trouble holding his or her head up. A child or adult with hypotonia has trouble standing, walking, and sitting and needs leg braces, a walker, or other assistance.
Hypotonia may be caused by many different types of central nervous system disease, genetic disease, or muscle disease.
Pronunciation: hi-po-TONE-eeya
