For premature and low birthweight babies, to reduce stress, claimed to improve weight gain, decrease length of hospital stay and other benefits. For brain injured babies at home, used to assist bonding with parents, as a form of communication and for tactile stimulation. Also used for tension-related disorders, musculoskeletal problems and pain and for bowel problems. Also used in conjunction with other therapies. NMT (neuromuscular therapy) is a massage method for injuries and pain.
Trager
Dr Milton Trager developed his own system of bodywork that emphasizes gentle rocking of the client and rolling body parts to encourage release and loosening with softening. Some massage schools offer brief introductory training in Trager bodywork, giving the massage therapist a glimpse into the system. Massage therapists with introductory training can integrate some of the Trager awareness into their massage work. Other practitioners offer only Trager.
Bowen
An extremely light form of massage, not specific for cerebral palsy but claims to be useful for treating pain and injury.
British Register of Complementary Practitioners, tel: 020 7231 5855, www.i-c-m.org.uk. Holds a register of massage therapists.
International Association of Infant Massage, tel: 01279 304455, www.iaim.org.uk Trains and registers instructors. Advice on the choice and use of oils. Can identify members who work with cerebral palsy and other conditions.
Trager UK, tel: 01903 717987, www.trager.co.uk. Register of practitioners.
European College of Bowen Studies, tel: 01373 461873, www.thebowentechnique.com. Register of accredited practitioners. A summary of research on the effectiveness of the technique is at: http://tinyurl.com/ypj8gs.
Anyone can set up as a massage therapist, or add massage to their practice in another field.
Gracies JM. Physical modalities other than stretch in spastic hypertonia. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 2001 Nov;12(4):769-92, vi.
Underdown A et al. Massage intervention for promoting mental and physical health in infants aged under six months. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006. www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005038.html
Vickers A, Ohlsson A, Lacy JB, Horsley A. Massage for promoting growth and development of preterm and/or low birth-weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD000390. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000390.pub2 www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000390.html
Some further results of massage studies are in the
Research section of Cerebra’s website.
