Massages for children with autism are quite different from regular massages.
The effect of massage therapy on children with autism and how it differs from regular massages: Massages performed for autistic children are completely different from regular massages.
General massages are performed for relaxation and with musculoskeletal maneuvers, but in the massage therapy of autistic children, neurological and sensory techniques are used, which are from the schools of occupational therapy.
This type of massage is performed according to the nerve cells of the skin receptor and then according to the musculoskeletal disorders of patients, occupational therapy techniques in the form of massage therapy are performed for them.
Introduction to massage therapy
Preliminary massage therapy for autistic children should be performed: “Prior to massage therapy, a sensory-motor assessment is performed to determine where and to what extent the child is experiencing hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity. For this reason, experts and specialists must determine with a special diagnosis whether the sensory disturbance is related to the sense of touch and deep sense or is related to other senses. Then, based on the obtained results, an evaluation is performed and according to that, massage techniques are performed on the child. These techniques are also taught to parents.
Special massage for each person
The speed and pressure of massage and the timing of each technique vary from person to person with autism, so it is best to do massage therapy every day to get the right result. For this reason, after a certain period of time, the massage therapy techniques applied to the patients are re-evaluated. Then a new phase of massage therapy is performed, which continues until the patient concludes and is discharged.
The important issue here is that most autistic children have both sensory and behavioral disorders that make these behavioral problems problematic. Therefore, if there is no behavioral disorder in these patients, especially children, their behavior can be balanced by sensory modification methods. Following this process, the child's commandability and educability increase.
For example, a child with autism who is overworked is distracted and distracted even by the clothes you are pulling. In fact, receiving any sensation from the outside environment is a disturbing and destructive factor for this child, and it seems that someone is constantly grabbing this child! Therefore, the child responds to these movements and emotions with motor reactions and aggression, and with these behaviors, he shows that he does not want to change his clothes, comb his head, or cut his nails. That is why he screams, shows extra movements, becomes malnourished, gets grumpy and performs other aggressive movements.
On the other hand, a child with sensory impairment never receives sensation from the outside environment, so his level of cognition and alertness decreases. To compensate for this deficiency, the brain adds movements, and this causes you to encounter a child who runs, jumps, flutters his wings, bites himself, and performs other movements.
Preparation for massage Therapy
For hypersensitive children by sensory modification, their additional reactions can be balanced. Massage therapy is actually the preparation of these people for cognitive, educational and motor exercises and other exercises. The only issue before massage therapy is communicating properly with the child. Most children with autism react to massage therapy, especially for hypersensitive children. Any touch or sensation of touch is annoying. Therefore, it is natural for them to resist this current at first. For this reason, experts and specialists design and perform sensory exercises for these children in such a way that their tolerance threshold gradually increases.
The points that should be massaged
Depending on the initial assessments, the child may only need massage therapy in certain areas. Accordingly: Sometimes you see a child who needs sensory work and massage only in the upper limbs or in other limbs. But in most children with autism, the sum of several organs and neurotransmitters involves sensory involvement. But in general, the techniques performed on the torso and upper limbs are performed to control extreme motor behaviors, extra movements, and stereotypes in these children.
New techniques have been used in massage therapy for people with autism, and basic techniques include Rood or P.N.F. But now the Keigang technique in theory and practice has had good results in children with autism. It is good to know that massage therapy has been around since the initial formation of the field of occupational therapy and its specialization, and special techniques for statist people have been added to it later.
