Massage Techniques for Children Flashcards

What does the 'sun and moon' abdominal massage technique involve?

Answer: Alternating large clockwise circles with a smaller horseshoe-shaped stroke

Sun and moon combines full clockwise circles (sun) with a half-moon-shaped horseshoe stroke in the lower abdomen to relieve gas and constipation.

When performing neck massage on an infant, the therapist should avoid:

Answer: Rotating the head and applying pressure to the carotid triangle

Pressure on the carotid triangle can compress the carotid artery and baroreceptors, causing dangerous cardiovascular responses in infants.

In a full infant massage sequence, which body region is typically massaged LAST?

Answer: Face

The face is typically massaged last in a complete infant sequence to conclude the session with calming, soothing facial strokes.

The 'I Love You' abdominal stroke is performed in what sequence?

Answer: Left side down, across from right to left, left side down

The 'I Love You' stroke traces an 'I' down the left side, an 'L' across from right to left, and a 'U' up the right and down the left side.

What is the recommended pressure level when massaging a premature infant in a NICU setting?

Answer: No pressure—only containment holds are used initially

Premature infants often respond better to static containment holds (no stroking) before transitioning to very light stroking as they mature.

During infant massage, alternating strokes on both sides of the back are performed to:

Answer: Promote bilateral neurological integration and relaxation

Alternating bilateral strokes on the back help integrate both hemispheres of the developing brain and promote overall relaxation.