Massage for Children with Special Needs Columbus OH

Viewing massage through the Gestalt, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, massaging children with special needs goes far beyond massage strokes.

Local Companies

Equivita
614-298-8781
1508 Hess St
Columbus, OH
Anne Penman
614-777-2911
5520 hilliard rome
columbus, OH
Body by Greg, LLC
614-769-5542
840 W. Lane Ave
Columbus, OH
Xcel Martial Arts
614-746-0938
50 Westerview Drive
Westerville, OH
StrollerFit powered by mommymuscle
614-753-2767
6400 Dublin Park Drive
Dublin, OH
Children's Hospital
(614) 722-3900
Columbus, OH
Eastglen Pediatrics
(614) 866-8077
6495 E Broad St Ste A
Columbus, OH
Pediatric Center At Big Run
(614) 276-2400
4310 Clime Rd Ste C
Columbus, OH
Cannon Patricia A MD
(614) 878-6415
111 Inah Ave
Columbus, OH
Barrett Gregory A MD
(614) 267-7878
4885 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH

Viewing massage through the Gestalt, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, massaging children with special needs goes far beyond massage strokes. The massage experience is the basis for energy and information exchange between parent and child from which every infant and child can enjoy the sense of belonging, empathetic understanding, homeostasis, security, trust, and engagement, all the while fostering interpersonal stability and flexibility. Parents can experience “being” in the moment, relating with their child first and the disability second, engaging in respectful, intentional nurturing touch. This state of being brings benefits to both child and parent alike, cognitively, physically, and social-emotionally. Following are the “Ten S’s of Massage Benefits for Children with Special Needs” (Schneider, 2008):

  • Secure bonding and attachment
  • Soothing and calmness (promoting pain management)
  • Socialization (promoting communication, eye gaze, and joint attention)
  • Smiling and laughing
  • Strengthening bodily systems (immune system, respiration, digestion, elimination, circulation)
  • Strengthening body tone (reducing hypertonicity and/or improving hypotonicity and facilitating bringing hands to mid-line and increasing range of motion)
  • Self-regulation
  • Structuring the brain
  • Stress reduction (stress - hormones cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are reduced and “feel good” hormones - serotonin, oxytocin, melatonin, gastrin, and insulin) are released
  • Sleep enhancement
    The “10 R’s” of Massage Benefits for Furthering Relationship-building (Schneider, 2008) are:
  • Respecting the child and oneself
  • Requesting permission to touch the child and observing nonverbal/verbal responses that signal approval
  • Reading the child’s engagement and disengagement cues
  • Responding to the child’s bodily states
  • Responding with flexibility and care
  • Reciprocally interacting
  • Recognizing healthy touch
  • Rhythmicity of movement, voice, song and/or rhyme
  • Resiliency formation
  • Routine and ritual establishment

    Massage is a natural way to build a healthy mind, a healthy body, healthy emotions and a healthy long-lasting relationship, one touch at a time, bathed in a somatosensory experience, while being nurtured, being relevant, and being loved.

    Every professional who serves children with special needs can benefit from learning massage so they can instruct the parents/caregivers of the children they serve and use massage as a prevention or intervention strategy. Every parent of a child with special needs would benefit from learning massage, also, as massage enlivens the core of being healthy, happy and calm, and creates a loving relationship upon which, for the child, other relationships are built. As Jucinda’s dad Jeff, said, “I can’t believe something so simple can produce such big results!” One day, it is my heartfelt wish that massage will become as commonplace as burping a baby or changing a diaper. I hope this is now your wish also.
    ©Elaine Fogel Schneider, 2008

    Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, ADTR, CGP, CTTI is the author of Massaging Your Baby – The Joy of TouchTime -Effective Techniques for a Healthier, Happier, More Relaxed Child & Parent (2006) Garden City Park, New York: Square One Publishers. She is an expert in the areas of communication, infant massage and parenting. She resides in Southern California with her husband of three decades and is the proud parent of a newlywed daughter and son-in-law. Dr. Schneider is an adjunct faculty for Nova Southeastern University, and California State University Bakersfield. She is the founder of TouchTime™ Institute and provides training for agencies and individuals. You can reach Dr. Elaine at drelaine@touch-time.com or visit her website at www.touch-time.com

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  • Featured Local Company

    Equivita

    614-298-8781
    1508 Hess St
    Columbus, OH
    equivita.com

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