Down Syndrome – Benefits of Massage

Children with Down Syndrome improved in motor function and muscle tone following massage therapy. Twenty-one moderate to high functioning young children with Down syndrome receiving early intervention (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy) were randomly assigned to also receive two 30-min massage therapy or reading sessions (control group) per week for two months. On the first and last day of the study, the children functioning levels were assessed using the Developmental Programming for Infants and Young Children scale, and muscle tone was assessed using a new preliminary scale (the Arms, Legs and Trunk Muscle Tone Score). Children in the massage therapy group revealed greater gains
in fine and gross motor functioning and less severe limb hypotonicity
when compared with the children in the reading/control group.