Benefits of massage therapy for children
One of the most fascinating things about massages is that they are not restricted to people of a certain age. Anyone, regardless of age and gender, can reap the benefits of massage therapy. Although this practice is generally used by adults, parents of newborn babies and toddlers are also joining the ranks. These parents actively seek this form of alternative therapy to ensure proper parenting of their loved ones.
The techniques for alternative massage therapy are generally the same for babies and children alike. However, the difference lies in the proper management and also in the magnitude of the benefits they provide for children of different ages.
Alternative massage therapy for babies
Infant massages require extreme care and attention as they have a direct impact on the human brain. There are a host of benefits to this specialized form of contact. Infant massages are useful to enhance the physical, emotional, mental and social development of the baby. They create a strong parent-child bond as the baby is exposed to the sense of gentle touch. Also, it is very effective in helping premature babies gain weight. It improves motor development in babies exposed to cocaine and facilitates respiratory function in babies with asthma. Such babies show positive improvements in behavior and a decrease in the anxiety and stress hormone, cortisol, after massage treatment.
Babies tend to cry a lot as it is their only way of expressing themselves during the early stages of infancy. A gentle massage can calm a crying baby and also relieve any colic, circulatory and digestive ailments. Plus, it helps new parents get comfortable with their child, so it’s a win-win situation. A thirty-minute baby massage session should be part of every parent’s daily routine.
Alternative massage therapy for children
Pediatric massage differs from infant massage in many ways and offers numerous benefits. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a rapidly growing psychiatric disorder among children. A general estimate places between 3% and 7% of all children and adolescents of school age as patients with ADHD. Studies have shown that massage therapy is an effective tool to counteract this disorder. A recent study revealed that male adolescents who received 10 to 15 minutes of alternative massage therapy daily showed better concentration and less fatigue. They also rated themselves as happy and showed noticeable signs of a positive mood.
Long-term benefits of alternative therapy
Another long-term benefit of pediatric massage therapy is that it thwarts any potential problems the child may encounter during their adult lives. Marybetts Sinclair, one of the pioneers in pediatric massage, is a massage therapist who writes about her own experiences working with adults. She pointed out that many adults experiencing problems could have been effectively treated with massage therapy during their childhood.
Trigger points from childhood injuries can cause muscle pain and stiffness in adult life. A birth injury that never healed could, in turn, cause structural problems. Some children go through emotional trauma that, if left untreated, will follow them into their adult lives. All of this, according to Sinclair, can be prevented through alternative massage therapy.
The best part about alternative massage therapy is that it is an all-natural solution to numerous problems and does not require the use of drugs or prescription drugs. It is 100% safe and does not have any adverse side effects, making it ideal for children of all ages.