Sensory Integration and Tone

Some more intro to SI is needed before I can discuss tone. Sensory Integration looks at the basic 5 senses, as well as proprioception and vestibular.

Proprioception is the ability to know where you are in space, it gives our brain the feedback that is needed for development of strength, and motor planning.

Vestibular system "contributes to our balance and our sense of spatial orientation, it is the sensory system that provides the dominant input about movement and equilibrioception" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestibular_system)

By providing therapy treatment that focuses on using the above senses appropriately you can greatly decrease the time it takes for your child to meet goals and increase their overall strength.

Tone is a term that many have heard, expecially if your child has cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome. Muscle Tone "refers to the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle" (http://about-cerebral-palsy.org/definition/muscle-tone.html)

Tone is fairly difficult to understand, but the main thing to remember is that if your child's tone is not normal or normalized then your child's ability to increase his/her strength will be difficult.

If you placed the types of tone on a scale you will find that there is normal-low tone- children usually walk later then average, normal-high tone- children usually walk earlier then average. low tone, which we see most often in children with Down Syndrome and high tone, often seen in children with Cerebral Palsy.

Abnormal tone is a sign of inappropriate sensory integration. Therefore, Sensory integration techniques are important to use in the course of treatment. I have found that using "The Sensory Profile" (an Occupational Therapy Test)helps to provide an overall picture of what area your child is having difficulty processing, and what is the most important "sensory diet" for your child to be more successful.