Postural Development and Very Low Tone

Overview

Very low muscle tone presents unique challenges in paediatric physiotherapy, particularly when supporting postural development, breathing strategies, and functional movement across infancy and childhood. This course provides a clinically focused exploration of postural development in children with very low tone, grounded in current paediatric physiotherapy practice.

Designed for clinicians working directly with children and families, the course emphasizes practical observation, clinical reasoning, and intervention strategies that can be applied immediately in practice. Complex concepts are supported with clear visuals, case examples, and a well-paced teaching style that supports learning across experience levels.

This course is delivered in partnership with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association – Paediatric Division, reinforcing its relevance to contemporary paediatric physiotherapy practice.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe key principles of postural development in children with very low muscle tone

• Recognize how low tone influences breathing, alignment, and movement strategies

• Identify postural patterns commonly observed in infants and children with hypotonia

• Apply practical assessment considerations to guide intervention planning

• Integrate developmentally informed strategies into paediatric physiotherapy care

Audience

This course is intended for healthcare professionals working in paediatrics, including:

• Paediatric physiotherapists / physical therapists

• Occupational therapists working with infants and children

• Early intervention clinicians

• Students and new graduates entering paediatric practice

It is particularly valuable for clinicians who:

• Work with infants or children with hypotonia

• Support postural development and breathing in paediatric populations

• Are seeking immediately applicable, clinically relevant strategies

About the Presenter

Mary Massery, PT, DPT, DSc

Mary is an internationally recognized physical therapist, educator, and clinician whose work has shaped how clinicians think about breathing, posture, and motor control across the lifespan. With more than four decades of clinical experience, Dr. Massery’s expertise spans paediatric and adult populations and emphasizes a multi-system, integrative approach to movement dysfunction.

Dr. Massery earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University (1977), her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of the Pacific (2004), and her Doctor of Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (2011). Her doctoral research—published in the Journal of Applied Physiology—helped establish connections between airway function and postural stability, advancing contemporary understanding of core stability and motor behaviour.

She has delivered over 1,000 invited presentations in all 50 U.S. states and more than a dozen countries worldwide, including keynote and major addresses on topics such as breathing mechanics, postural development, and multisystem influences on movement and function. Dr. Massery has received the American Physical Therapy Association’s Florence Kendall Practice Award, the honorary Linda Crane Memorial Lecture distinction, and Outstanding Alumnus recognition from each of her three alma maters—honours that reflect her enduring influence on the profession.

Clinically, Dr. Massery is known for her ability to translate complex physiology into practical clinical insight, helping clinicians blend biomechanics with respiratory, neuromuscular, and systemic perspectives. She continues to teach, consult, and maintain a limited patient practice in the Chicago area, supporting therapists and patients alike in achieving more effective, whole-person outcomes.

Participant Feedback

Participants consistently highlight the quality of instruction, depth of practical content, and immediate clinical applicability of this course:

“This was a FANTASTIC presentation and had so much practical content I can apply directly to the kids I work with immediately.”
“Mary is always such a fantastic speaker—she jammed so much useful information into this one-hour webinar.”
“Excellent content and delivery. Good pace, great slides and pictures.”
“I will be re-watching this a few times!”

Several participants also expressed interest in additional follow-up education, particularly related to supporting older children with established breathing or postural patterns—underscoring the course’s impact and clinical relevance.