Children and Adolescents

While playing sports can improve children's fitness, self-esteem, coordination, and self-discipline, it can also put them at risk for sports injuries: some minor, some serious, and still others that may result in lifelong medical problems.

Young athletes are not small adults. Their bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are still growing and that makes them more prone to injury. Growth plates—the areas of developing cartilage where bone growth occurs in growing children—are weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons. As a result, what is often a bruise or sprain in an adult can be a potentially serious growth-plate injury in a child. Also, a trauma that would tear a muscle or ligament in an adult would be far more likely to break a child's bone.

Because young athletes of the same age can differ greatly in size and physical maturity, some may try to perform at levels beyond their ability in order to keep up with their peers.

Medical massage can be a pleasant and effective part of how you treat your sports injuries, producing immediate, noticeable improvements in how you feel. Relieving muscle stress through sports massage will not only help treat your current injuries, but it can also help prevent future sporting injuries.

Pain of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Another common chronic disease of childhood, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), is a painful inflammation of joints which may persist for months or years.12 The chronicity of the disease and the stress inherent to the family may contribute to increased anxiety in the child.

Pain control is sometimes a problem as the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs are limited and narcotics are not considered appropriate.

The results of TRI's study on JRA were published in 1997. Twenty children, ages 5 to 14, were randomly assigned to a massage or relaxation modality administered at bedtime by the parent. During the 30-day trial, massage proved more effective than relaxation in reducing anxiety in parent and child, as well as reducing stress hormone levels.13 Participant pain also decreased, as assessed by self-report, parent report and physician observation. The success of massage in reducing pain may have been due to an increase in serotonin or a pain-blocking mechanism.

Massage for ADHD

Two recent studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami reported that regular massage therapy can be an effective treatment for kids with ADHD. One study found adolescent boys who received ten 15-minute daily massages were observed by their teachers to be more focused in their schoolwork, and they fidgeted less. In addition, the children rated themselves as happier than those who participated in a relaxation therapy program.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Adolescents with ADHD displayed less anxiety, daydreaming behaviors, inappropriate emotions and hyperactivity, and their conduct improved after participating in Tai Chi classes.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., & Thimas, E. (2001). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: benefits from Tai Chi. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 5, 120-123.

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Adolescents with ADHD rated themselves as happier and were observed to fidget less after massage sessions. Also, teachers rated adolescents receiving massage as less hyperactive and as spending more time on-task.
Field, T., Quintino, O. & Hernandez-Reif, M., & Koslovsky, G. (1998). Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 33, 103-108.

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The present study involved 30 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 18 diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The children were randomly assigned to a wait-list control and a massage group. Mood state improved for the massage but not the control group based on smiley face and thermometer scales. The massage group also improved in classroom behavior in the areas of the Conners Teacher Rating Scales on anxiety, daydreaming and hyperactivity.

Khilnani, S., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., & Schanberg, S. (2003). Massage therapy improves mood and behavior of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adolescence, 38, 623-38.