Question
How can one measure a neonatal or infant’s muscle tone?
Answer
Low muscle tone is generally caused by inflammation of the nervous system. Various factors such as shortened labor, difficult childbirth, fetal intrauterine growth retardation, distress, and difficulty breathing can lead to brain edema and water aspiration, causing ischemic and hypoxic damage to the brain. This results in abnormal muscle tone after birth. Typically, newborns have higher muscle tone due to the incomplete development of their nervous system. It takes about 1-2 months for their limbs to gradually relax and allow for free flexion and extension.