Massage therapy is growing in popularity with more and more scientific research has shown it assists in healing many different illnesses. Cystic Fibrosis and other lung ailments are extremely difficult to treat because of the scope of symptoms, while the physical symptoms present themselves as breathing difficulties the cause could be both mental and physical. The amazing quality that pediatric massage brings is that it treats both.
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Massage Therapy is a scientifically valid addition to any medical treatment, recently studies have shown how massage can help with cystic fibrosis and other breathing issues. Cystic Fibrosis is described as "an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States." (CFF.org.) Cystic Fibrosis is commonly referred to as CF, it clogs lungs and can lead to recurring life-threatening lunch infections and can obstruct the pancreas and stop the enzymes. More than 70% of CF patients are diagnosed by the age of two, making this a real problem in pediatric field.
One large part of discomfort associated with Cystic Fibrosis, Asthma and other breathing issues is anxiety.. If a child has anxiety about the potential of not breathing it can actually prompt breathing issues. Massage facilitates relaxation and other studies have shown that it also reduces anxiety due to breathing related issues.. By massaging their child for twenty minutes before bed everyday, a study found that it resulted in both the child and parent reporting reduced anxiety.. On top of that, the peak air flow was also found to have improved for the children who received massage!
Another study focused on children with asthma, one group received twenty minutes of either relaxation therapy or massage therapy (both provided by parents.) Decreases in anxiety coupled with higher cortisol levels, peak air flow and other pulmonary functions also improved in the children who were massaged. Important to note that those who had lower anxiety also felt better overall about asthma and even became more vocal about it by the end of the study.
Research has shown pediatric massage therapy can ease both emotional and physical discomforts associated with common pediatric medical conditions.. Research studies conducted by the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine demonstrate that massage can alleviate pain, anxiety and depression in pediatric clients. This innovative healing touch therapy also provides comfort, relaxation, reduction of stress hormones and relief from chronic conditions such as asthma, nausea, constipation and muscle aches.
Pediatric massage therapy may be a viable choice for your child with asthma, Cystic Fibrosis or other ailments. As always, we recommend contacting your primary care provider before starting any new treatment.
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