Special Populations & Clinical Applications Flashcards
6 cards from real PMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Special Populations & Clinical Applications flashcards as text
The primary goal of massage for a child with cerebral palsy (spastic type) is to:
Answer: Temporarily decrease muscle tone, improve circulation, and promote comfort
Massage temporarily reduces spasticity and muscle guarding, improves circulation to chronically contracted muscles, and promotes overall comfort and relaxation in CP.
For a child recovering from a sports concussion, massage therapy should:
Answer: Avoid the head and focus on stress reduction and neck muscle tension if medically cleared
During concussion recovery, vigorous head massage is contraindicated; gentle work on neck and shoulder tension with physician clearance can support recovery.
Therapeutic massage has been specifically studied as beneficial for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with research demonstrating:
Answer: Reduced off-task behavior and improved mood immediately following sessions
Research by Field et al. showed that ADHD children receiving massage therapy displayed significantly less off-task behavior and improved mood immediately after sessions.
For a child with type 1 diabetes, the therapist must be prepared for the risk of:
Answer: Hypoglycemia triggered by increased glucose uptake during massage
Massage increases cellular glucose uptake, which can cause blood sugar to drop; always ensure the child has eaten, monitor for hypoglycemia signs, and have glucose available.
When providing massage to a child with congenital heart disease who has received medical clearance, the therapist should avoid:
Answer: Vigorous techniques that significantly increase heart rate and cardiac workload
Vigorous massage techniques that dramatically increase heart rate and circulatory demand can overload a compromised cardiovascular system in children with congenital heart disease.
In post-surgical pediatric massage, treatment of the scar tissue should begin only after:
Answer: Complete wound closure and physician clearance, typically 6–8 weeks post-surgery
Scar tissue massage should not begin until the wound is fully closed and the physician confirms it is safe, generally 6–8 weeks post-surgery, to avoid disrupting healing tissue.