Massage is seen as a therapeutic tool used mainly for adults to aid in muscle relaxation, stress relief, and mental health and physical health benefits. However, kids face the same stressors and ailments. Today, kids are faced with educational, social, and emotional stressors, as well as varying diagnoses and motor, sensory, and medical ailments. What happens when we are stressed or in pain? One may feel tension, soreness, tightness, lethargy, fatigue, depression, the list goes on. I do not know about you, but I have felt all these before. Massage, for me, has always been a mental escape, muscle relief, and a place where my mind and body can find peace. There is no reason why children can’t experience these same pleasures.
When a child experiences stress, the adrenal glands increase cortisol levels which decrease the immune system. Thyroxin can lead to insomnia, shaky nerves, endorphins are depleted, pain tolerance decreases, digestive system shuts down, blood sugar rises, cholesterol increases, heart beats faster and higher. During periods of stress, one’s senses become heightened, but after prolonged exposure, burn out and become less efficient. In children, stomachaches, headaches, allergic reactions, cold and flu are common signs of stress , and pain. The above listed symptoms can cause trigger points.
Massage can stimulate the nervous system- temperature, skin flexibility, skin thickness, body in space awareness, and tension. Stimulation of tactile experiences increase brain growth through increase in neurons, as well as decreasing anxiety, increasing self-esteem, body image, emotional attachments, engages pressure receptors, increases feedback on density and tension of muscle tissue. Tactile comfort is increased in children who are distressed and calm down quicker than with verbal outputs. Acute early tactile deprivation causes increased muscle tension in infants and may lead to repetitive, self-soothing movements. Massage therapy increases body awareness as a child may not be aware of muscle tension. The human brain and body is extremely malleable, especially in children. However, as the human body grows this characteristic decreases. For this reason, it is important to provide massage therapy intervention early on.
While massage can benefit both adults and children, the administration of this will vary. Pediatric massage may be conducted on pillows/blankets instead of a massage table, child friendly music instead of white noise/classical music, stuffed animals, textured tools/balls, scented lotion/oils, ice packs/heat pad, massage during relaxed play, and massaging for decreased time intervals (e.g., starting at 10 minutes).
For most, one of the downfalls of massage therapy can be cost. These days, parents are faced with many financial stressors, which is why I want pediatric massage therapy to be attainable. Massage therapy services at strOnger Together, LLC will be financially accessible, and can be accessed through insurance.
strOnger Together, LLC 