СHILDREN MASSAGE AND ITS BENEFITS
Massage is not only a way of relaxation. This is a whole complex of mechanical and reflex effects on the human body. With the help of a variety of techniques: friction, pressure, vibration – can achieve both therapeutic and general health-improving effect, maintain muscle tone, develop them.
Massage is especially necessary for children. For newborns, it is an integral part of daily care procedures, because it has a positive effect not only on the condition of the skin, but also on the musculoskeletal, nervous and cardiovascular systems of the baby’s body. For healthy children, massage is a complex of activities that promotes the proper development of motor skills, strengthening muscles, nervous and immune systems.
HOW DOES A CHILDREN MASSAGE DIFFER FROM AN ADULT?
- intensity of mechanical impact — as a rule, it is medium and low intensity;
- selectiveness of pressure: it is necessary to take into account the age of the child, in particular – the predominance of the tone of the flexor and extensor muscles;
- the choice of massage movements: stroking, rubbing, kneading and vibration are used as much as possible.
WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE USED IN CHILDREN’S MASSAGE?
Stroking prepares a delicate baby skin for massage, improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles. It is necessary to stroke gently, with the whole palm, moving in the direction of the lymph flow, without shifting the skin into folds.
Rubbing/Friction is a technique in which the massaging hand does not slide over the skin, but shifts it, producing shifting, stretching in various directions.
Kneading has the main effect on the muscles, accelerating the flow of blood and lymph.
Vibration — oscillatory movements performed with different amplitudes. They perfectly tone and anesthetize.
WHY DO INFANTS NEED A MASSAGE?
If you have a baby, then your infant can also benefit from massage therapy. Both newborns and babies that are a few months old will benefit from massage therapy. Babies will start to feel better after minutes of having received massage therapy.
Congestion and colic, for example, are common amongst infants. Teething and gas can be expected with infants and toddlers. Fortunately, massage therapy is helpful to effectively treat gas, teething, colic, and congestion in infants.
Regular massages will also help babies sleep longer. They will be more likely to sleep through the night which will help you and you will get the rest you need.
Preventive massage is indicated for ALL children of the first year of life. For healthy children, this is so important because:
- Due to the physical effect on the skin, a whole stream of impulses goes from the peripheral nervous system to the brain. It promotes mental and psychological development.
- Blood circulation improves, tissues are saturated with oxygen.
- Abdominal massage promotes the discharge of gases, strengthens the abdominal muscles and helps to improve the digestive process.
- It will make it possible to overcome the hypertonus inherent in all newborn children.
WHY DOES A CHILD NEED A MASSAGE AFTER 1 YEAR?
Children after a year, when they become more mobile, should combine massage with gymnastic exercises. This will prepare the baby for the development of further complex actions.
Massage for children after a year is somewhat different from a similar procedure for infants. Their skin is significantly thickened, which means that the technique of carrying out is modified. Techniques include such as: tapotement, oscillation, rubbing.
Motor skills will also be improved via massage therapy. Children must have optimal reflexes, agility, and reaction time in order to be alert and fit. Poor motor skills during early childhood development can cause serious problems in the child’s future.
If the child is healthy, then the purpose of the impact will be:
- Warming up muscles, saturation of tissues with oxygen.
- Improvement of intestinal peristaltic mobility.
- Reduction of nervous excitability.
- Tonic effect, increase of the body’s defenses.
- Strengthening of the musculoskeletal system and joints.
- Improving the functions of the respiratory system, which reduces the incidence of respiratory diseases.
- Improved tone of all muscles provides prevention of posture disorders, flat feet and deformities of the lower extremities.
- Development and improvement of coordination of movements, dexterity and precision, as well as a sense of balance.
WHY DOES TEENAGERS NEED A MASSAGE?
With the onset of the transition age, the body becomes especially vulnerable: the body is growing intensively, all organs and systems are being rebuilt. Adolescents may experience cramps, increased fatigue, impaired posture and other problems.
At the same time, the lifestyle is changing. Outdoor games are becoming a thing of the past, they are being replaced by gadgets and other “sedentary” activities.
Many children report suffering from stress, anxiety, and/or depression. Some doctors may recommend powerful drugs in order to sedate children or help them focus at school. Massage therapy serves as a holistic way to help children deal with stress, as it does not involve any drugs or invasive procedures.
Instead, it may help naturally reduce cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a potent stress hormone, so lowering cortisol levels may help elevate mood and reduce the risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure in the future.
A teenager, after spending half a day in school, is forced to go to a tutor to study the school curriculum, instead of simply doing homework and moderate workload in the form of independent preparation for upcoming exams.
Thanks to school, teenagers sit incorrectly, move very little, lose the time necessary for proper rest, recuperation and a real (non-computer-related) hobby, and this also negatively affects health.
Is your child…
- A musician?
- An athlete?
- An academic achiever?
- A teenager?
Does Your Child…
- Struggle in social situations?
- Suffer from a recent loss or life change?
- Have a physical condition such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis?
- Experience anxiety or depression?
- Have an eating or body image disorder?
Then they might benefit from massage therapy! Researchers studying massage all conclude that it is powerful.
Massage normalizes the movement of blood and lymph, removes stagnation. Yes, yes, do not be surprised, teenagers who lead a sedentary lifestyle have stagnant phenomena that can manifest themselves in the form of swelling, numbness of the limbs (especially at night), numbness in the sacrum, stiffness in the shoulder girdle.
Massage relieves muscle tension in the neck and back, has a beneficial effect on posture, helps to solve problems of curvature of the spine, pinching of nerve endings, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, is a passive exercise.
Those who choose sports and healthy lifestyle also need a massage. Massage prevents overtraining, helps to remove lactic acid from the muscles, relieves muscle blocks, promotes harmonious development.
THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF A TEENAGER
Teenagers are constantly exposed to stress. This is an intense change in appearance, and interaction with teachers, and the attitude of peers, and relationships with family members, and the need to accept a new self … (continue the list yourself).
Restorative and therapeutic massage for children aged 10 -16 years is one of the most effective methods of preventing diseases of the musculoskeletal system and is part of the comprehensive treatment of existing disorders.
In this age period, the joints, muscles, and ligaments of the child may undergo negative changes, which is due to entering the school period and the need to spend a long time at a desk.
In combination with a decrease in healthy physical activity, this leads to muscle weakening, a decrease in their tone and may even cause disorders of the child’s psycho-emotional state (hyperexcitability) and behavioral reactions.
Professional massage combined with gymnastics helps to maintain the physical and mental health of the student and provides conditions for the proper formation of his musculoskeletal system.
Massage enhances brain nutrition, stimulates the synthesis of a number of enzymes, relieves fatigue. After the massage, the child sleeps deep and fully resting. This has a positive effect on academic success: improves memory, reduces fatigue, helps to be more focused, increases personal efficiency.
MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
Massage for children aged 10 -15 years includes classical techniques on which all traditional directions are based – sports, hygienic, preventive massage. Such techniques include petrissage, friction, effleurage and oscillation, which are complemented by active (performed by the child himself) and passive (with the help of a massage therapist) movements in the joints.
Children’s massage for teenagers is carried out on the whole body and involves the main muscle groups responsible for posture, coordination and endurance.
MASSAGE EFFECTS
- Elimination of hyperexcitability and improvement of memory.
- Relieving fatigue and tension.
- Prevention of posture disorders.
- Muscle strengthening.
- Increase of physical and mental endurance.
- Improving sleep.
- Relieving muscle and nervous tension.
- Increase appetite and immunity.
- Improving academic performance.
The child’s body develops all the time and differs from the adult’s body by the nature of its responses to various external influences. Currently, none of the leading specialists has any doubts that preventive massage is a necessary element of child care, as well as an important component of its subsequent development.
Your young ones are more active than ever, in mind and in body. Teaching them to manage stress and body awareness while they are young can help prevent a lifetime of chronic pain and poor habits. We only have one body. Give your children the gift of teaching them how to take care of it at a young age.
You can learn more about massage here. The prices for massage are in the section “Services and Pricing“.
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