Read the full article at Integrative-Healthcare.org.

In my research on this topic, I found more information than I realized was available. As Massage Therapist’s we know the wonderful power of touch. This is even more important when shared between a child and a parent. Mother’s and Father’s alike should be willing to give the gift of touch to their child.

From the time they are born children crave their parents touch. We know from studies on the subject and articles written about it that we can witness the effects of good touch in a child’s life and demeanor.

When my daughter was an infant she had to spend a few days in the NICU for a minor problem. While we spent time with her their we learned about the babies around her. We witnessed as a baby born 3 months pre-mature began to flourish when she was given warm touch from a volunteer. She could not be held for long periods because it burned off too many of her calories.

Why is that? Because when she was touched her heart rate and metabolism increased. Increasing her ability to flourish. Good touch is not limited to physical growth alone. It has great benefits in mental and spiritual growth as well.

I have found a site that is dedicated to this modality and all of its wonderful aspects.
http://www.infantmassageusa.org

The benefits for the child are :

Relaxation and stress relief

Relieves abdominal discomfort

Improves muscle tone and circulation

Better deeper sleep

Stimulates brain development

Improves sensory awareness

Baby cries less

Promotes bonding between Parent and child

The benefits for the Parent are:

More confidence in child care

Respond to baby’s cues more easily

Learn new techniques for comforting

New tool for increasing parent/child bond

So where does Infant Massage come from?  It dates back to ancient times. Most prominently in Asian and Pacific Island cultures where it has been used for centuries. In these cultures along with many others, the practice of touch was something shared in the family and handed down generation after generation.

Infant massage was introduced formally to the west in 1978 when Vimala  McClure developed an infant massage training program while she was serving in an orphanage in Northern India.

She is a true pioneer in helping bring this modality to the west.  As Therapist’s we can be more proactive about our approach to infant massage by sharing the benefits it offers and increasing our education in this modality.  We can also encourage our pregnant clients in this modality and even help them become more comfortable with this area of care and nurturing.

This is an incredible modality that could prove to be very rewarding to each and every Therapist who chooses to practice the fine art of Infant Massage.

Author
Punkie Spelts is a Massage Therapist living in Southern California. She is also a Web Publisher and writes extensively for multiple web sites like HealthPositive!, cureyourbody.com and many other research sites including her own massage therapy site at www.punkiespelts.com.

A new study released in August has found value in not only Massage Therapy but also in the culture of the Massage Therapy world.

The objective of the study,  “to explore the attributes of the therapy encounter valued by repeat users of health-related massage therapy”, found six valued elements of the massage therapy encounter.  These six elements valued by repeat users revealed that the benefit most are experiencing comes, not only from the practice, but also from the culture experience of  massage therapy itself.

The six elements found to be valued the most are:

• Time for Care
• Personal Attention
• Engaging and Competent Therapist
• Trust Partnership
• Holism and Empowerment
• Effective Touch and Enhanced Relaxation

These elements are important because each one reveals something unique about the success of massage therapy and the benefits it offers to those interested in its practice.  Time for care and personal attention is very important to anyone  searching for an alternative to mainstream medicine.  We all know, from experience, what it feels like to go to the doctor and find you didn’t have the time to communicate to them all of the information you felt would enhance any care you might receive.

Having an engaging, competent Therapist makes the experience of massage more beneficial.  Knowing the Therapist has the knowledge and skills from their education to perform an effective massage helps the client relax and rest assured in the therapy session, receiving all of the benefits offered making the encounter a partnership in trust.

The last set of elements carry benefits all their own.  Offering the benefit of Holism and empowerment is a gift.

Each client who leaves the Massage Therapy encounter with a sense holism and empowerment will always return to the Therapist who helped them experience the true benefits of massage therapy.

The conclusion of this study, directly from the research,  states the final conclusion best.

“The culture of massage therapy care incorporates a number of characteristics that are congruent with the complementary and alternative medicine approach to health. In addition, massage specific factors were identified. The humanistic aspects of the therapy encounter valued by clients offer insight into the growing use of massage therapy and the success of massage therapy outcomes”.

As Massage Therapists we know all of the benefits from massage therapy.  It is very encouraging to see more and more studies find their way through the research cycles giving us the information we need that reveals the benefits to everyone. We offer a vital alternative to mainstream medicine that is becoming recognized and recommended.

Author
Punkie Spelts is a Massage Therapist living in Southern California. She is also a Web Publisher and writes extensively for multiple web sites like HealthPositive!, cureyourbody.com and many other research sites including her own massage therapy site at www.punkiespelts.com.