Special Populations & Clinical Applications Flashcards

For children who have experienced trauma, which massage approach is most consistent with trauma-informed care principles?

Answer: Prioritizing client control, choice, and transparency about every touch

Trauma-informed care requires that clients have control over what happens to their body, clear explanations before each touch, and constant choice in the therapeutic process.

A child with torticollis (wry neck) would benefit from massage focused primarily on:

Answer: The shortened, contracted sternocleidomastoid and surrounding muscles on the affected side

Torticollis involves shortening of the sternocleidomastoid on one side; massage targets the contracted muscle to reduce tension and improve range of motion.

Abdominal massage for children with constipation should be performed using:

Answer: Clockwise, gentle effleurage following the colon path

Clockwise gentle strokes follow the path of the large intestine (ascending→transverse→descending) to assist peristalsis and relieve constipation.

For an infant with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), positioning during massage should include:

Answer: Head-elevated positioning to reduce reflux episodes during massage

Elevating the infant's head during massage reduces the likelihood of reflux and aspiration, particularly in the prone and supine positions.

For children with asthma who are not in an acute episode, massage therapy has been shown to:

Answer: Reduce anxiety, improve peak flow, and decrease asthma symptoms over time

Studies have shown that regular massage in non-acute asthmatic children reduces anxiety, improves peak expiratory flow, and decreases the frequency of symptoms.

Children with Down syndrome who receive regular massage therapy may show improvements in:

Answer: Muscle tone, circulation, and body awareness

Massage therapy supports children with Down syndrome by improving muscle tone (addressing hypotonia), circulation, and proprioceptive body awareness.