Research & Studies for Children’s Massage

Extensive research validates the benefits of massage for children. The Touch Research Institute (http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/Research.html) has been a leader in this work. It studies the effects of touch therapy for all ages & has established positive results in multiple domains, including increased attentiveness, to reduced aggression & depression, anxiety, pain & more.

A long-term Swedish study evaluated the results of massage in 4 to 5 year olds who exhibited aggressive & defiant behavior in day-care centers. The study concluded that a daily massage decreased aggressive behavior among the preschool children. (“Massage Decreases Aggression in Preschool Children: A Long-term Study” from ACTA Paediatrica Journal; May 2008 ISSN 0803-5253) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18782279 and http://liddlekidz.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MassageDecreasesAggression_APA_Research.pdf

Touch Research Institute: Infant Massage
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/InfantMassage.html

Touch Research Institute: Children’s Massage
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/ChildMassage.html

University of Warwick Medical School: Massage Helps Infants
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/NE1000000231138/

Vanderbilt University Health Psychology: Massage Therapy & Infants
https://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/MassageTherapyInfants.htm#wumwi

The Benefits of Massaging Babies
http://www.massagereferences.com/articles/Baby_Massage.pdf