Hypotonic muscles appear weak but it is important not to confuse this with muscle weakness.
Muscle weakness can occur in normal muscle as well as muscles affected by neurological damage. It occurs when muscles are inactive, they reduce their number of muscle fibres and therefore there is a reduction in strength.
Exercise involving repetition and resistance is effective in regaining strength in a normal muscle because it helps increase the amount of muscle fibres within the muscle. This form of exercise is not useful in regaining strength in the hypotonic muscle and can result in an increase in spasticity in surrounding muscles.