Medical equipment use in children with disabilities: A descriptive survey.

Objective: To investigate the use of medical equipment by children with disabilities, the reasons for use, and prescribers of equipment.

Methods: A convenience sample.

Setting: Referral clinic for children with developmental conditions.

The floppy infant: evaluation of hypotonia.

Hypotonia is characterized by reduced resistance to passive range of motion in joints versus weakness, which is a reduction in the maximum muscle power that can be generated. (Dubowitz, 1985; Crawford, 1992; Martin, 2005) Based on strong research evidence, central hypotonia accounts for 60% to 80% of cases of hypotonia, whereas peripheral hypotonia is the cause in about 15% to 30% of cases. Disorders causing hypotonia often are associated with a depressed level of consciousness, predominantly axial weakness, normal strength accompanying the hypotonia, and hyperactive or normal reflexes.