Tone and Muscle Strength

Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult for your child to build muscle strength?

It could directly be related to your child's tone. If it is abnormally high or low then increasing strength will be difficult.

To increase the ability to build strength you must provide sensory activities prior to the strengthening activity. This will help to normalize your child's tone and prepare the muscle fibers.

Low Tone: Activities that increase tone

-Irrythmical bouncing
-Jumping
-Quick swinging
-Cold

High tone: Activities that decrease tone

-Rhythmical rocking
-Warmth
-Deep pressure

For best and quickest results, it is imperative that you use a sensory technique prior to starting your strengthening activities.

Example: If your child has low tone you could start by bouncing them on a ball, quickly and irrythmical, while moving them side to side.( I will post a video, once my camera is back from the camera doctor) This will elicite righting reactions and increase tone.

Then follow with your strengthening activity, which could include wheelbarrow walking for shoulder strength, pushing/pulling objects, or using therapy items such as: 1- pop tubes 2-pop beads and 3- Theraputty. Three of my favorite things to use in therapy sessions.

If your child has high tone you want to create a warm environment in which to work. I will be posting a video, hopefully next week, that will show and describe the some of the methods described and more that require a visual to ensure correct technique is being used.

Try some of the ideas presented, and please ask questions and comment. Thank you.