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The Beneficial Effects of Massage on Motor Development and Sensory Processing in Young Children with Developmental

Wei-Peng Lu1,2, Wen-Hui Tsai3,4, Ling-Yi Lin1

  • 1Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan.

Developmental Neurorehabilitation
|October 31, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Massage therapy significantly improved motor skills and sensory processing in young children with developmental delay (DD). This intervention enhanced gross motor function and sensory sensitivity, offering a beneficial addition to routine rehabilitation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric physical therapy
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Infant massage therapy

Background:

  • Developmental delay (DD) affects young children, impacting motor and sensory development.
  • Children with DD often require specialized interventions to support their growth.
  • Massage therapy is explored as a potential complementary approach for managing DD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of massage therapy in enhancing motor and sensory processing in young children with developmental delay.
  • To assess the impact of a 12-week massage intervention on children aged 1-3 years with undiagnosed DD.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 36 children with DD, aged 1-3 years.
  • Participants were stratified by age and motor developmental quotient, assigned to either a massage group or a control group.
  • The massage group received 20-minute massages twice weekly for 12 weeks, alongside routine rehabilitation.

Main Results:

  • The massage group showed statistically significant improvements in total motor scores (p=0.023) and gross motor scores (p=0.047).
  • Enhanced sensory sensitivity behavior was observed in the massage group (p=0.042).
  • Standardized developmental and sensory assessments were used pre- and post-intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Massage therapy is an effective intervention for improving motor function in children with developmental delay.
  • Massage positively impacts sensory processing and sensitivity in young children with DD.
  • These findings support integrating massage into rehabilitation programs for children with developmental delays.

Keywords:
Developmental delaymassagemotorsensory processing

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