Research summaries for autism therapy: massage therapy

definition of massage therapy: Massage is touching, rubbing, and pressing various parts of the body, typically with the hands. The touch can be superficial or deep into muscle tissue, in order to relax and/or heal the area of the body. Massage therapists use various methods including Swedish, deep tissue, and acupressure. Children with autism may benefit from the feelings of closeness and touch and relaxation that massage therapy may bring.
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Qigong Massage Treatment for Sensory and Self-Regulation Problems in Young Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Summarized Apr 1, 2010

Qigong massage therapy may help reduce the symptoms of autism in young children, both at school and at home.

This study looked to see if 5 months of qigong massage therapy would improve symptoms of autism compared to controls. The study showed that qigong massage reduced symptoms of autism as measured by tests of behavior and abilities. The children who received qigong massage showed improved sensory and physical systems. The children also gained skills for social learning. The authors plan to expand the study to look at the effects of qigong massage on the nervous system (vagal tone).

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Outcomes of a Pilot Training Program in a Qigong Massage Intervention for Children with Autism, Summarized Nov 20, 2008

Qigong massage may be able to help children with autism improve sensory issues and problem behavior.

This study was designed to see if Western-trained people would be able to perform Qigong massage on children with autism and see results. They found that the 80-hour Qigong Sensory Training program was able to train therapists to provide Qigong massage. The authors found no difference in outcomes between children who were high-functioning and those who were low-functioning. The study did not have a control and it was small (26 children). The authors are now working on a larger randomized controlled study. Read more...

A Review of Recent Reports on Autism: 1000 Studies Published in 2007, Summarized Oct 28, 2008

Children with autism have medical and therapy costs that are $4,110-6,200 more than children without autism.

This article reviews the autism research studies that were published in 2007. The most common drug therapy is risperidone, which may lessen irritability, repetition, and social withdrawal. Other drugs used as autism therapy include atypical antipsychotics, antibiotics, and memantine. One study found that acupuncture helped over half of the children with autism who received treatment. The article also reviewed massage therapy, robots, electroconvulsive therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and music therapy. Read more...

Vagal Activity, Early Growth, and Emotional Development, Summarized Sep 17, 2008

Massage therapy may help young children with autism to have better social behavior, use more facial expressions, and make more sounds.

The vagus nerve is important for the nervous system and social function. The vagus nerve goes from the brain to the gut, heart, ears, mouth, and voice. Children with autism have low activity of the vagus nerve. People with lower vagal activity also tend to have higher stress hormone (cortisol) levels and lower levels of the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin. This review article describes vagal activity and how infant massage can be used to increase vagal activity. Read more...

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Synonyms for massage therapy include: massage
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