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| Searching for Truth Creates Hope for our Future |
| Pediatric Massage Therapy Research |
| Negative emotions are stored in the body. It stands to reason massage therapy is effective in treating emotional distress as well as physical pain. |
| Premature infants After 3, 15 minute massages/day for 10 days. 47% more weight gain. Released six days earlier. |
| Stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly decreased. Serotonin (a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite) increased. Low levels of serotonin are associated with many disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). |
| ADD/ADHD After 10 days of receiving one 15 minute massage per day Time on task increased from 43% to 77%. Conners scale improved from 28 to 11. |
| Comments by Tiffany Field, MD Touch Research Institute, University of Miami, School of Medicine "... adolescents were less depressed and less anxious than they had been and their stress hormones (cortisol and orepinephrine) had decreased. They also developed better organized sleep patterns and showed more appropriate behavior after massage therapy. Long term effects reported by teachers included more time on task and lower Conners Hyperactivity scores." |
| Effects of Abuse After first day of massage Depressed mood (POMS) from 30 to 14. Anxiety (STAIC) from 64 to 40. After one month of 30 minute massages twice a week Life Event Stress decreased from 4.3 to 1.5. Depression (CESD) from 40 to 26. |
| PTSD After 8 days of 30 minute massage two times per week Relaxation level increased from 47 to 82. Depression (CESD) improved from 26 to 16. |
| Computation After one 15 minute massage Accuracy improved from 69.2% to 89.2%. Time to complete decreased from 250 to 234 seconds. |
| Sleep After 5 days of receiving a 30 minute massage per day Time asleep increased from 79.7% to 91.3%. Time awake decreased from 15% to 4% |
| Infants After receiving three 15 minute massages every day for 10 days Norepinephrine decreased from 245 to 120. Epinephrine decreased from 22 to 11. Cortisol decreased from 1383 to 656. Serotonin increased from 945 to 1428. |
| Autism After 4 weeks of 15 minute massage 2 days a week Off task behavior improved 12.8 points. Stereotypical Behaviors improved 8.2 points. Behavior regulation improved 6.3. Social improved 5.0. |
| Aggression After 5 weeks of 20 minute massage two times a week OAS total decreased from 28 to 22. SCL-90R Hostility decreased from 13 to 11. |
| Leukemia After 30 days of 15 minute massage per day White blood count increased from 2.5 to 4.0. Neutrophils increased from 38.9 to 52.2. After one 15 minute massage from parent Parent depression CESD) improved from 19 to 6. Anxiety (STAIC) decreased from 28 to 22. Depression (POMS) decreased from 8.4 to 3.0. |
| Research was conducted at the Touch Research Institute, University of Miami. For more information on the effects of massage therapy on infants, children and adolescents visit Touch Research Institute. |
| For more information: 207 522-7257 |