Most parents believe that all children, without exception, benefit from and need massage. But only a few know what and when. The famous pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky talks about what types of massage are, why and how they are done, and whether it is possible to cope with this task on your own
What it is?
Massage is a health-improving and therapeutic procedure designed to activate physiological processes in tissues and muscles, and improve blood supply. This method of treatment was described by the ancient doctors Avicenna and Hippocrates. And today it is difficult to imagine a comprehensive treatment without a doctor's recommendation to do a massage. This is especially useful and pleasant procedure for children. For different diseases in babies, different types of massage are used.
Massage types
Massage, depending on the reason for which it is prescribed, is different:
- Prophylactic;
- Cosmetic;
- Healing;
- Resuscitation;
- Relaxing.
All types of massage, according to Dr. Komarovsky, are based on three methods of exposure - stroking (friction), pressure, vibration.
When is massage harmful?
Evgeny Komarovsky receives thousands of letters in which parents write that their treating pediatrician strongly recommended massage to a child under one year old, and even advised a specific masseuse. Moms and dads complain not that the services of such a masseuse are very expensive, but that the child is screaming heart-rendingly every day for the entire massage session. Of course, there will be little benefit from such "health-improving" procedures, says Evgeny Komarovsky.
The child cries because the touch of a stranger is unpleasant to him, perhaps they give him not only psychological discomfort, but also quite tangible pain. Whether to do this massage further or not is up to the parents to decide, but common sense dictates that it is not worth continuing the torture.
If the pediatrician has prescribed a massage, and you need to go to it to the clinic, sit in line with the child, expose him to the risk of contracting viral and other infections - it is also better to refuse such a massage. The entire health-improving effect of the procedures will be canceled out by the very first ARVI.
The best massage is a procedure that my mother performed with her own hands. For a child of the first year of life, tactile contact with the mother is very important, especially if the child is artificially fed. Therefore, it is important for parents to learn how to do wellness procedures (gymnastics, massage) on their own.
For infant colic
According to Dr. Komarovsky, this is a very effective way to relieve a child's colic condition at a very early age. Massaging the tummy of the crumbs should be strictly clockwise, without strong pressure, using mainly light strokes around the navel.
After the massage, it is advisable to lay the baby on his tummy for a few minutes to facilitate gas evacuation. Massage should be done with warm hands. The number of sessions per day is not limited, you can do it before each feeding.
When coughing
With a wet cough, as well as at the final stage of the disease associated with the appearance of a cough, when it is important for the child to quickly clear his throat, Evgeny Komarovsky recommends doing vibration massage. It is based on percussion - tapping. The baby is placed with his tummy on one hand of an adult, with the tips of the fingers of the other hand they gently tap the back in the region of the bronchi, then the same movements are repeated on the chest.
An older child should be placed on his knees, face down, so that the head is one level below the butt. First, the back is tapped with the tips of the fingers, and then the chest. After this, the child is asked to take an upright position and clear his throat.
Drainage massage is not done in the acute period of the disease, while the child has a fever. Komarovsky recommends doing percussion massage no earlier than on the fifth day after the onset of the disease.
General tonic for good sleep
Yevgeny Komarovsky recommends starting to do such a massage for children immediately after returning from the hospital. It is based on stroking. It is pleasant and useful for the child. Starting from 2-3 months, kneading of the muscles of the arms, legs, back can be added to stroking, and at 4 months the child should receive a full-fledged massage session every day before bathing, in which all three types of influence will be combined. If the mother is not lazy and will carry out this procedure every day for 15-25 minutes, then the child will be able to sleep soundly, he will have fewer problems with appetite and mood.
To reduce muscle hypertonicity
Such massage is prescribed quite often, at least 9 out of 10 children after a mandatory examination by a neurologist at 3 months, receive such a recommendation. Evgeny Komarovsky says that hypertonicity of the legs and arms is characteristic of all children, without exception, it usually goes away without any special manipulations by 4-5 months. Therefore, to do a massage or not is a question that remains at the discretion of the parents. It is necessary to do it with hypertonicity only when the doctor not only said that the child has increased tone, but also named a specific neurological diagnosis. Tonus in itself is not such a diagnosis.
With cerebral palsy and other similar diseases, the mother should definitely learn the techniques of therapeutic massage. They are varied, and depending on the diagnosis (torticollis, cerebral palsy, planovalgus feet, etc.), the doctor will prescribe different techniques and different duration of procedures.
With obstruction of the lacrimal canal
With this disease, which is quite common in babies (dacryocystitis), massage is the main method of conservative treatment. To do this, mom needs to feel the tubercle between the bridge of her nose and the eye with her index fingers. Press lightly on the lacrimal sac (tubercle) and with a vibrating motion lower your finger down to the nose. Such a drainage massage promotes the discharge of stagnant tear fluid and a gradual full recovery of the child.
Tips
Measure the strength of the pressure, do not hurt the child. Komarovsky advises you to test your strength in a very simple way - put your index finger on your own eyeball and start pressing. How it hurts - this is the ultimate pressing force on children's skin.
Dry friction, if no oils or baby cream are used during the manipulations, can be a separate cause of crying during the procedure. Komarovsky advises to use special means that will make the effect on the baby's skin pleasant. It is important that the oil for children under one year of age is edible and odorless. Olive oil, peach oil are best suited for these purposes.
If the child twists, tries to roll over, cries or falls asleep altogether during the massage, the procedure should be stopped.
If you want to use the services of a professional massage therapist, it is important not to fall into the clutches of scammers.
If you require medical procedures, the child has a certain diagnosis, you should definitely contact a specialist who will teach you how to do all the techniques correctly.
If massage is needed for general strengthening, Komarovsky advises not to contact masseurs by ad, since any mother is able to do such manipulations herself.
What types of massage are there, when and to whom is it shown, what is its main purpose and are there any contraindications? All these questions will be answered by Dr. Komarovsky in the video below.
