An Exploratory Comparative Study of the Influence of Thai Massage on Postural Stability in Children with Overweight
Supapon Kaewsanmung1, Vitsarut Buttagat1,2, Ampha Pumpho1
1Department of Physical Therapy, School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Insights
Thai massage may help improve postural stability in children with obesity. While not statistically significant, the massage group showed a trend toward better balance, unlike the control group which declined.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Integrative Medicine
- Biomechanical Analysis
Background:
- Childhood obesity impacts biomechanics, musculoskeletal function, and neuromuscular control, potentially reducing postural stability.
- Early interventions are crucial for addressing these issues in pediatric populations.
- This study explored Thai massage's effect on postural stability in overweight/obese children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of Thai massage on postural stability in children with overweight and obesity.
- To compare the effects of Thai massage plus stretching versus stretching alone on postural control.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental, comparative design involving 58 overweight/obese children in Thailand.
- Intervention group received 45-minute Thai massage and stretching twice weekly for six weeks.
- Control group performed daily home stretching exercises; postural stability was assessed pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The Thai massage group showed a non-significant trend toward improved sway path length and sway velocity.
- The control group experienced a significant increase in sway path length and velocity (p < 0.05), indicating decreased postural stability.
- No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Thai massage demonstrated a potential trend for stabilizing postural stability in overweight and obese children.
- The observed between-group differences were not statistically significant.
- Further research with longer interventions is recommended to establish clinical significance.
Background:
Prolonged obesity in children can lead to a gradual decline in postural stability due to changes in biomechanics, musculoskeletal function, and neuromuscular control. Early interventions may help address these issues. This exploratory study examined the potential influence of Thai massage on postural stability in children with overweight and obesity.
Methods:
This study employed a quasi-experimental, comparative design and was conducted at the Pa Tueng Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand. A total of 58 children meeting the criteria for overweight or obesity were systematically assigned to either the Thai massage group or the control group based on the order in which they were recruited. The Thai massage group received 45 min full-body Thai massage sessions combined with stretching exercises twice a week for six weeks (a total of 12 sessions), while the control group was advised to perform daily stretching exercises at home. Postural stability was assessed by measuring sway path length and sway velocity during double-leg and single-leg stances with eyes closed, both before and after the intervention.
Results:
While no statistically significant differences were found between the groups, the Thai massage group exhibited a non-significant trend toward reduced sway path length and sway velocity, whereas the control group showed a significant increase in both measures (p < 0.05), indicating a decline in postural stability over time.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that Thai massage showed a potential trend toward stabilizing postural stability in children with overweight and obesity; however, the between-group differences were not statistically significant. As an exploratory study, further research with longer intervention durations and follow-up assessments is needed to determine whether clinically meaningful effects can be established.
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