Clinical studies show that massage may be an effective treatment for young children and adolescents with a wide range of health problems, including:
- Autism: Autistic children, who usually don't like being touched, show less autistic behavior and are more social and attentive after receiving massage therapy from their parents.
- Atopic dermatitis/eczema: Children with this scaly, itchy skin problem seem to experience less redness, scaling, and other symptoms if receiving massage between flares. Massage should not be used when this skin condition is actively inflamed.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Massage may improve mood in children with ADHD and help them feel less fidgety and hyperactive.
- Bulimia: Studies show that adolescents with this eating disorder feel less depressed and anxious after receiving massage therapy.
- Cystic fibrosis: Massage may reduce anxiety and improve respiration in children with this lung condition.
- Diabetes: Massage may help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce anxiety and depression in children with diabetes.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) have been shown to experience less pain, morning stiffness, and anxiety as a result of massage therapy.
Fibromyalgia
Massage is a very important part of the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Therapeutic massage assists in the removal of waste from muscles, while increasing blood and nutrient flow. This results in a greater availability of oxygen to cells. Massage is particularly useful when starting an exercise program. Under the best of conditions, soreness after exercise can be expected. For someone with Fibromyalgia, increased soreness can serve to discourage further activity before benefits have been achieved. In the area of soreness reduction nothing works faster than massage. Properly administered joint stretching also helps reduce muscle pain and increases range of motion.
Many fibromyalgia symptoms: pain, stiffness, fatigue, depression can be relieved with massage therapy. Now, researchers say they understand why. Massage alters the sleep pattern, which reduces levels of the chemical messenger for pain.
Neuropathy
The signs and symptoms associated with PN vary according to the cause of the problem and which types of neurons have been affected. Obviously, sensory neuron damage leads to changes in sensation. This may reflect as tingling, shooting or burning pain, or numbness. Often people with PN describe a feeling of "stockings" or "gloves" with symptoms that begin bilaterally at the extremities and work proximally up the limbs.
Orthopedic Massage is a very important part of the treatment for Neuropathy. The fascia becomes "glued" and constricts the nerves, mucsle and circulation. Therapeutic ortho massage releases the facsia and allows the neurons to transmit freely, regaining feeling, reducing pain, tingling, puffiness and numbness.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic, episodic, inflammatory disease of the large arteries that usually develops in people over 50 years of age.
Polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis are believed to represent the same disease process, with slightly different symptoms.
Massage therapy is suggested to tone and relax the muscles and aid circulation which aids healing throughout the body. Low-level repetitive circulatory massage can be more effective than other forms of massage to relieve pain on an on-going basis.
Massage benefits for PolyMyalgia include: improving quality of sleep, reducing pain levels by relaxing associated muscle tissue and reducing stress and tension.
