Skip to content
knowrare
HealthSignal
Your condition community

Living with Amyotonia congenita

A rare infant muscle condition with very low muscle tone from birth, so the baby looks weak or unable to move some body parts.

Understanding Amyotonia congenita

Amyotonia congenita is a rare infant muscle disease with very low muscle tone in muscles supplied by the spinal nerves.

GARD describes it as congenital atonic pseudoparalysis. From birth, the baby appears weak or unable to move some parts of the body, even though the nerves and muscles are present.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary describes very low muscle tone from birth.

  • Very low muscle tone from birth
  • Weakness or trouble moving some body parts

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which tests can find the cause of my baby's low muscle tone?
Which specialists, such as a neurologist, should we see?
What therapy can help my baby's muscles?

Quick facts

InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD lists autosomal recessive inheritance, so a child inherits a changed copy of a gene from each parent. It doesn't name a gene.

Also known as: benign congenital hypotonia; congenital atonic pseudoparalysis; oppenheim disease; oppenheim's amyotonia; oppenheim's disease

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Amyotonia congenitaGARD ID 5798 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Amyotonia congenita.

Explore the Amyotonia congenita blog

Explore research for Amyotonia congenita

Explore actively recruiting Amyotonia congenita studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Amyotonia congenita with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper

I can help you find recruiting Amyotonia congenita studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

Get Signals for Amyotonia congenita

Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.

HealthStoryfor Amyotonia congenita

Create a living journal that talks back

HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Amyotonia congenita experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.

Start your journal

Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.