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Medical - Pediatric Massage
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Description
Various techniques are used in infant massage, with the different strokes
specific to a particular therapy. Special handling is used for treating a
baby with gas and colic. Some of the strokes are known as "Indian milking,"
which is a gentle stroking of the child's legs; and the "twist and squeeze"
stroke, a gentle squeeze of the muscles in the thigh and calf. The light
"feather" strokes often employed in regular Swedish massage are applied at
the end of a massage. The procedure is not unlike certain forms of adult
massage, but with extra care taken for the fragility of the infant.
There are also specific Chinese techniques of pediatric massage,
including massage of children with special needs. In China, these forms of
massage can be given by medical professionals, but parents are often taught
how to do the simpler forms for home treatment of their children.
Key Benefits
- Relaxation
- relief from stress
- interaction with adults
- stimulation of the nervous system
Treatment Data
Please read this additional information...
Definition
Infant massage refers to massage therapy as specifically applied to
infants. In most cases, oil or lotion is used as it would be on an adult
subject by a trained and licensed massage therapist. Medical professionals
caring for infants might also use massage techniques on infants born
prematurely, on those with motor or gastrointestinal problems, or on those
who have been exposed to cocaine in utero.
Origins
The practice of massaging infants dates back to ancient times,
particularly in Asian and Pacific Island cultures; that is, massage was a
component of the baby's regular bath routine among the Maoris and Hawaiians.
Touch in these cultures is considered Healthful both physically and
spiritually. In the West, however, infant massage has received more
attention in recent years in conjunction with the popularity of natural
childbirth and midwife-assisted births. Dr. Frédéric Leboyer, a French
physician who was one of the leaders of the natural childbirth movement,
helped to popularize infant massage through his photojournalistic book on
the Indian art of baby massage.
Infant massage was introduced formally into the United States in 1978
when Vimala Schneider McClure, a yoga practitioner who served in an
orphanage in Northern India, developed a training program for instructors at
the request of childbirth educators. An early research study by R. Rice in
1976 had showed that premature babies who were massaged surged ahead in
weight gain and neurological development over those who were not massaged.
From McClure's training in India, her knowledge of Swedish massage and
reflexology, along with her knowledge of yoga postures that she had already
adapted for babies, she became the foremost authority on infant massage. In
1986 she founded the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM),
which has 27 chapters worldwide as of 2000.
Benefits
Research from experiments conducted at the Touch Research Institutes at
the University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University
has been cited for the clinical benefits massage has on infants and
children. Tiffany Field, Ph. D., director, noted that the research "...
suggests that touch is as important to infants and children as eating and
sleeping. Touch therapy triggers many physiological changes that help
infants and children grow and develop. For example, massage can stimulate
nerves in the brain which facilitate food absorption, resulting in faster
weight gain. It also lowers level of stress hormones, resulting in improved
immune function."
The benefits of infant massage include:
- Relaxation
- relief from stress
- interaction with adults
- stimulation of the nervous system
The results of several studies showed that infant massage alleviates the
stress that newborns experience as a result of the enormous change that
birth brings about in their lives after the 6-9 months they have spent in
the womb. Both premature infants and full-term babies need the relaxation
that comes from massaging and moving their limbs and muscles. In infants
with colic, massage provides the relief necessary to disperse gas, ease
muscle spasm, tone the digestive system and help it work efficiently. Some
techniques even help bring relief from teething and emotional stress. The
stimulation an infant receives from massage can aid circulation, strengthen
muscles, help digestion, and relieve constipation. The bonding that occurs
with massage between a parent and child enhances the entire process of
bonding that comes with contact through all of the senses, including touch,
voice, and sight. It affords a physical experience of quality time between
the parents and the child as well as with any significant others in a baby's
life.
Preparations
If lotions or oils are used, care is taken to ensure their safety on a
baby's delicate skin. The most important consideration is to use vegetable
oils rather than mineral oils, which can clog the pores in the skin. The oil
that is used should be warmed in the caregiver's hands before applying it to
the baby's skin. The environment in which the massage is given to an infant
should be comfortably warm, and as calm and non-threatening as possible.
Precautions
Extreme caution is necessary when performing infant massage. Strokes are
made with the greatest delicacy in order not to harm the infant in any way.
Proper techniques are taught by licensed massage therapists ensuring that
the infant is treated with appropriate physical touch. Anyone who is
unfamiliar with handling a baby should receive appropriate instruction
before beginning infant massage.
Side effects
No adverse side effects have been reported when infant massage is done
properly after careful instruction, or by a licensed massage therapist who
specializes in infant care.
Research & general acceptance
In addition to the study already noted regarding touch therapy, a website
devoted to infant massage lists research published as early as 1969, and
cites hundreds of individual projects that have been conducted throughout
the world focusing on infant massage. Many of the studies are related to the
benefits of massage and touch for premature infants and others born with
such risk factors as drug dependence. Conclusions regarding the benefits are
overwhelmingly positive. The proliferation of therapists licensed in infant
massage across the United States and worldwide indicates that infant massage
is increasingly recognized as a legitimate Health care treatment.
Training & certification
The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) has developed a
basic course for licensing infant massage therapists. The pioneer in the
field, Vimala McClure, began to prepare a course of instruction in the
1970s. The course is introduced in four-day sessions around the United
States. Licensing is obtained by those who complete the course, pass a
take-home examination, and complete a teaching practicum with five families
over a three-month period. IAIM listed its course in 2000 as costing $550.00
if paid in full two weeks prior to training, and $595 after that. It
includes a $100 nonrefundable deposit due one month before training. The
cities where the basic course was offered in 2000 included Augusta, GA;
Gaithersburg, MD; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Washington, DC; Charlottesville,
VA; Minneapolis, MN; and Albuquerque, NM. In 2000, the International
Institute of Infant Massage in Albuquerque also offered an Infant Massage
Instructor Certification Course specifically geared to men, entitled "Men
Teaching Fathers," and scheduled to last four days.
The licensing of massage therapists varies from state to state, as infant
massage qualifies for consideration as medical treatment. Infant massage is
becoming an increasingly popular discipline within the field. Numerous
websites provide listings for infant massage specialists throughout the
United States. The IAIM course is recognized as the official course for
infant massage.
Further Reading
For Your Information
Books
- Auckett, Amelia. Baby Massage: Parent-Child Bonding through Touching.
Newmarket Press, 1982.
- Cline, Kyle. Chinese Massage for Infants and Children: Traditional
Techniques for Alleviating Colic, Teething Pain, Earache, and Other Common
Childhood Conditions. Inner Traditions International, Limited, 1999.
- Fan, Ya-Li. Chinese Pediatric Massage Therapy: Traditional Techniques
for Alleviating Colic, Colds, Earaches, and Other Common Childhood
Conditions, ed. Bob Flaws. Blue Poppy Enterprises, 1999.
- Gordon, Jay, and Brenda Adderly. Brighter Baby: Boosting Your Child's
Intelligence, Health and Happiness through Infant Therapeutic Massage. New
York: Regnery Publishing, Inc. 1999.
- Heinl, Tina. The Baby Massage Book: Shared Growth through the Hands.
Sigo Press, 1991.
- Leboyer, Frédéric. Loving Hands: The Traditional Indian Art of Baby
Massage. New York: Knopf, 1976.
- McClure, Vimala Schneider. Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving
Parents. New York: Bantam Books, 1989.
- Walker, Peter. Baby Massage: A Practical Guide to Massage and Movement
for Babies and Infants. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996.
Organizations
- International Association of Infant Massage. P.O. Box 1045. Oak View,
CA 93022.
- International Institute of Infant Massage. 605 Bledsoe Rd. NW.
Albuquerque, NM 87107. (505) 341-9381. Fax: (505) 341-9386.
Other
- Gentle Touch Infant Massage Video. Gentle Touch, Inc. 1996.
Source: Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale
Group, 2001. |
