Pediatric massage
Pediatric massage is the complementary and alternative treatment that uses massage therapy, or "the manual manipulation of soft tissue intended to promote health and well-being" for children and adolescents.[1] Its goal is to reduce pain, anxiety, loneliness and fear when children are hospitalized or diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition. Pediatric massage therapy takes into consideration each child’s individual physical development, cognitive development and heath care needs.
Evidence
Infant massage
Main article:
Infant massage
Infant massage is a type of complementary and alternative treatment that uses massage therapy for human infants. This therapy has been practiced globally, and has been increasingly used in Western countries as a treatment for infants, though the scientific evidence supporting its use is limited. Research into the effectiveness of massage therapy on full term infants has found some tentative evidence for some benefits such as sleeping and crying in infants, though the evidence is not strong enough to recommend universally, and more research is needed.[2] Research in pre-term infants and low birth weight infants have found weak evidence that massage might improve weight gain, but these results are based on possibly biased studies and therefore no recommendation can be made for universal use at this time.[3]
Non-infant pediatric massage
• Reduced anxiety and tension[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
• Reduced pain [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
• Improved long-range emotional and cognitive development[21][22][23]
• Improved healing/immune function[24][25][26]
• Relaxation for the parent/caregiver and baby/child[27][28]
• Improved gastrointestinal functioning/relief of gas and constipation[29][30]
• Improved sleep patterns[31][32]
• Increased parent-child bonding (when parent administered)[33][34]
• Increased confidence in parenting skills (when parent administered)[35]
• Improved focus and attention span[36]
Research shows that massage therapy can ease both physical symptoms as well as emotional discomforts associated with pediatric medical conditions.[37] The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine is a primary medical research provider for massage and touch therapy, including pediatric massage and infant massage. Pediatric massage also can help manage chronic conditions such as asthma by providing relaxation and reducing muscle tone in the chest, back and neck, nausea, constipation and muscle aches (myalgia).
Immediately after receiving massage, children with mild to moderate juvenile rheumatoid arthritis notice decreased anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol) levels.[38] For young patients with autism or ADHD, pediatric massage has been found to reduce their aversion to touch, while increasing their ability to focus.[39][40][41] Pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis report feeling less anxious, and their ability to breathe and pulmonary functions improved.[42][43]
Pediatric massage was also found to have benefit in relieving post-traumatic stress.[44]
Limitations in research
Like many other complementary and alternative medicine modalities, many research studies reporting benefit from pediatric massage have been small in scale and vulnerable to bias. Comprehensive medical reviews of the existing pediatric massage research reinforce the benefits, but ask for larger-scale, scientifically rigorous studies.[45] Physicians are recommended to educate themselves and their patients about the empirically validated benefits and precautions associated with pediatric massage.[46]
References
- ^ Beider S, Mahrer NE, Gold JI (December 2007). "Pediatric massage therapy: an overview for clinicians". Pediatr. Clin. North Am. 54 (6): 1025–41; xii–xiii. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2007.10.001. PMID 18061789.
- ^ Underdown A, Barlow J, Chung V, Stewart-Brown S (2006). "Massage intervention for promoting mental and physical health in infants aged under six months". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD005038. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005038.pub2. PMID 17054233.
- ^ Vickers A, Ohlsson A, Lacy JB, Horsley A (2004). "Massage for promoting growth and development of preterm and/or low birth-weight infants". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD000390. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000390.pub2. PMID 15106151.
- ^ Field, T., Morrow, C., Valdeon, C., Larson, S., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S.(1992). Massage reduces depression and anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 125-131.
- ^ Field, T., Grizzle, N., Scafidi, F., & Schanberg, S. (1996). Massage and relaxation therapies' effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence, 31, 903-911.
- ^ Complementary Medicine in the Surgical Wards, Mehmet C. Oz, Gerard C. Whitworth, Eric H. Liu JAMA. 1998;279 (9):710-711.
- ^ Children with cancer and blood diseases experience positive physical and psychological effects from massage therapy. Haun JN, Graham-Pole J, Shortley B. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2009 Jun 29;2(2):7-14.
- ^ Dominican Children with HIV not Receiving Antiretrovirals: Massage Therapy Influences their Behavior and Development. Hernandez-Reif M, Shor-Posner G, Baez J, Soto S, Mendoza R, Castillo R, Quintero N, Perez E, Zhang G. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Sep;5(3):345-354.
- ^ Massage therapy as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer. Hughes D, Ladas E, Rooney D, Kelly K. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008 May;35(3):431-42. Review.
- ^ Pediatric massage therapy: an overview for clinicians. Beider S, Mahrer NE, Gold JI. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):1025-41; xii-xiii. Review.
- ^ Analgesia and sedation in children: practical approach for the most frequent situations. Mencía SB, López-Herce JC, Freddi N. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2007 May;83(2 Suppl):S71-82. Review.
- ^ Pain management of musculoskeletal injuries in children: current state and future directions. Ali S, Drendel AL, Kircher J, Beno S. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2010 Jul;26 (7):518-24; quiz 525-8. Review.
- ^ Itching, pain, and anxiety levels are reduced with massage therapy in burned adolescents. Parlak Gürol A, Polat S, Akçay MN. J Burn Care Res. 2010 May-Jun;31 (3):429-32.
- ^ Myofascial trigger points in children with tension-type headache: a new diagnostic and therapeutic option. von Stülpnagel C, Reilich P, Straube A, Schäfer J, Blaschek A, Lee SH, Müller-Felber W, Henschel V, Mansmann U, Heinen F. J Child Neurol. 2009 Apr;24 (4):406-9.
- ^ Procedural pain heart rate responses in massaged preterm infants. Diego MA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M. Infant Behav Dev. 2009 Apr;32(2):226-9. Epub 2009 Jan 30.
- ^ Children with cancer and blood diseases experience positive physical and psychological effects from massage therapy. Haun JN, Graham-Pole J, Shortley B. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2009 Jun 29;2(2):7-14.
- ^ Complementary and alternative medicine for acute procedural pain in children. Evans S, Tsao JC, Zeltzer LK. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Sep-Oct;14(5):52-6. Review.
- ^ Massage therapy in outpatient pediatric chronic pain patients: do they facilitate significant reductions in levels of distress, pain, tension, discomfort, and mood alterations? Suresh S, Wang S, Porfyris S, Kamasinski-Sol R, Steinhorn DM. Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Sep;18(9):884-7.
- ^ Growing pains: a noninflammatory pain syndrome of early childhood. Lowe RM, Hashkes PJ. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008 Oct;4(10):542-9. Epub 2008 Sep 2. Review.
- ^ Massage therapy as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer. Hughes D, Ladas E, Rooney D, Kelly K. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008 May;35(3):431-42. Review.
- ^ Massage therapy improves neurodevelopment outcome at two years corrected age for very low birth weight infants. Procianoy RS, Mendes EW, Silveira RC. Early Hum Dev. 2010 Jan;86(1):7-11. Epub 2009 Dec 22.
- ^ Complementary and alternative medicine therapies to promote healthy moods. Kemper KJ, Shannon S. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):901-26; x. Review.
- ^ Brief report: use of complementary and alternative medicine and psychological functioning in Latino children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis or arthralgia. Zebracki K, Holzman K, Bitter KJ, Feehan K, Miller ML. J Pediatr Psychol. 2007 Sep;32(8):1006-10. Epub 2007 Jul 11.
- ^ Diego, M.A., Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Friedman, L. & Shaw, K. (2001). HIV adolescents show improved immune function following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 35-45.
- ^ Field, T., Cullen, C., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Sprinz, P., Beebe, K., Kissel, B. & Bango-Sanchez, V. (2001). Leukemia immune changes following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 3, 1-5.
- ^ Pediatric massage therapy: an overview for clinicians. Beider S, Mahrer NE, Gold JI. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):1025-41; xii-xiii. Review.
- ^ Field, T., Cullen, C., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Sprinz, P., Beebe, K., Kissel, B. & Bango-Sanchez, V. (2001). Leukemia immune changes following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 3, 1-5.
- ^ Complementary Medicine in the Surgical Wards, Mehmet C. Oz, Gerard C. Whitworth, Eric H. Liu JAMA. 1998;279 (9):710-711.
- ^ Severe pediatric rumination syndrome: successful interdisciplinary inpatient management. Green AD, Alioto A, Mousa H, Di Lorenzo C. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011 Apr;52(4):414-8.
- ^ Massage therapy as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer. Hughes D, Ladas E, Rooney D, Kelly K. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008 May;35(3):431-42. Review.
- ^ Field, T., Morrow, C., Valdeon, C., Larson, S., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S. (1992). Massage therapy reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 125-130.
- ^ Field, T., Kilmer, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., & Burman, I. (1996). Preschool Children's Sleep and Wake Behavior: Effects of massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care, 120, 39-44.
- ^ Cullen, C., Field, T., Escalona, A., & Hartshorn, K. (2000). Father-infants interactions are enhanced by massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care, 164, 41-47.
- ^ Postpartum Depression, Laura J. Miller, JAMA. 2002;287 (6):762-765.
- ^ Postpartum Depression, Laura J. Miller, JAMA. 2002;287 (6):762-765.
- ^ Hart, S., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., & Lundy, B. (1998). Preschoolers’ cognitive performance improves following massage. Early Child Development & Care, 143, 59-64.
- ^ Massage therapy in outpatient pediatric chronic pain patients: do they facilitate significant reductions in levels of distress, pain, tension, discomfort, and mood alterations? Suresh S, Wang S, Porfyris S, Kamasinski-Sol R, Steinhorn DM. Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Sep;18(9):884-7.
- ^ Physical Medicine in Rehabilitation for Arthritis in Children, Miland E. Knapp, JAMA. 1960;174(15):1951-1953.
- ^ Field, T., Lasko, D., Mundy, P., Henteleff, T., Talpins, S., & Dowling, M. (1986). Autistic children's attentiveness and responsitivity improved after touch therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 329-334.
- ^ Escalona, A., Field, T., Singer-Strunck, R., Cullen, C., & Hartshorn, K. (2001). Brief report: improvements in the behavior of children with autism following massage therapy. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 31, 513-516.
- ^ Hartshorn,K., Olds, L., Field, T., Delage, J., Cullen, C. and Escalona, A. (2001) Creative movement therapy benefits children with autism. Early Child and Development and Care,166,1-5.
- ^ Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., & Martinez, E. (1999). Cystic fibrosis symptoms are reduced with massage therapy intervention. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 24, 183-189.
- ^ Reestablishment of hope as an intervention for a patient with cystic fibrosis awaiting lung transplantation. Anbar RD, Murthy VV. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Sep;16(9):1007-10.
- ^ Field, T., Seligman, S., Scafidi, F., & Schanberg, S. (1996). Alleviating postraumatic stress in children following Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 17, 37-50.
- ^ The state of research on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology. April KT, Walji R. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Feb;37 (1):85-94. Epub 2010 Dec 3. Review.
- ^ Pediatric massage therapy: an overview for clinicians. Beider S, Mahrer NE, Gold JI. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):1025-41; xii-xiii. Review.