Massage for clubfoot in children

In the soft tissue form of clubfoot there is only a soft tissue contracture (from birth). The bony misalignment develops with age (if left untreated!).

What is speech therapy and who does it?

Speech correction using massage techniques is today one of the most effective methods for working with children who have speech problems and with adults who have problems with speech and chewing functions. With the help of massage, the mobility of the tongue, cheek and lip muscles is achieved.

Speech therapy is an integral part of rehabilitation exercises and leads to measurable results for children, adolescents and adults. It is important to know that this is not a harmless procedure that carries medical contraindications and unpleasant sensations when used mechanically, which is why it should be prescribed by a doctor and performed by a certified speech therapist or massage therapist.

At our academy you can learn speech therapy massage and qualify to work with patients who suffer from speech disorders. You will learn how to conduct an examination, identify the causes of speech disorders and perform corrective speech therapy massage.

Benefits of speech therapy massage

• normalizes the tension of the muscles involved in articulation;
• improves motor skills of the articulation apparatus;
• reduces the effects of paralysis on facial expression and speech;
• develops coordination of movements of the articulatory organs (larynx, vocal folds, tongue, palate, lower jaw, lips, nasopharynx);
• corrects hyperkinesia, synkinesia (involuntary movements).

In addition to its effect on the speech system, speech therapy massage can significantly improve blood circulation and have a positive effect on the general functioning of the body by helping to calm and generate energy.

foot massage

Foot massage, especially foot and lower leg massage, is essential for normalizing muscle tone, especially the calf muscles. Normal muscle tone is important to form proper foot support throughout the foot. If the tone of the foot muscles is high, the child has to stand or walk on his toes. Massaging your toes helps straighten them more quickly if they are stiff.

Start the foot massage with the baby's feet. Lay the child on his back with his feet facing you. With one hand, grab the baby's foot in the shin area. The leg should be slightly bent at the knee and hip joints.

• The first step is petting. Wrap your fingers crosswise around the child's foot and around the toes. Place the thumb on the sole side of the foot and the other toes on the back of the foot. Stroke the foot towards the ankle. Repeat this process 3-5 times.
• Another technique is rubbing. Using the back of the foot, rub the sole of the foot with the ball of the thumb in a forward spiral motion from the child's heel to his toes. Repeat this technique in 2-3 passes. If the child presses on the toes all the time, try not to press the thumb on the sole in the front third (under the toes) while rubbing. Remember that squeezing causes an even stronger reflexive contraction of the toe flexor muscles.
• Then rub each toe one at a time. To do this, grab the fingertip with three fingers and move to the base of the finger with a progressive rubbing movement. Repeat the technique in 3 sets for each finger individually.
• If you need to stretch your toes, also massage the back of the foot towards the metatarsophalangeal joint. Repeat this 4-5 times and you will see the toes begin to relax and straighten.
• If your child continues to nibble on their toes while lying down and standing, add an intense rubbing technique to the outer edge of the foot.

Lower leg massage

• Move on to stroking the lower leg. Place your hand around the child's lower leg just above the ankle. Move your hand along the shinbone in a sliding motion toward the knee joint. Repeat stroking 2-3 times.
• When using the rubbing technique, hold the child's shin with one hand while keeping the leg slightly bent at the knee joint. Then run your fingertips over the back of the shin toward the knee joint. Repeat this 3-5 times. Try to work all sides of the calf muscle. Do not massage the kneecap.
• Finish the foot massage by stroking in a direction from the foot to the thigh and then to the hip joint. Repeat this technique 2-3 times.

• We continue with the hip massage. Hold the child's leg at the bottom with one hand, with the leg slightly bent at the knee and hip joint. Start with petting. With your free palm, stroke the thigh from the knee joint to the hip joint along the front and side surfaces. Repeat this technique 5-7 times.
• Then, using your fingertips, rub the thigh in a spiral forward motion. Perform a spiral motion along the front and side surface of the thigh. Repeat this technique 5-7 times.
• Move on to more intense circular rubbing. To do this, place your palms crossed around your child's thigh, just above the knee joint. Hands should be close to each other and move towards each other. The rubbing is done over the thigh towards the hip joint and is repeated in 2-3 passes.
• Another technique is kneading. Place your hands across the child's hips. Grip the muscles on the outside just above the knee joint. Pull back slightly and then begin an S-shaped movement in multiple directions, slowly moving down the thigh towards the hip joint. Repeat the technique by stroking the thigh 2-3 times. Then remember to stroke the whole leg and massage your child's other leg in the same way.

risk factors

There are many myths about why scoliosis develops in childhood. It is important to remember that:

• The problem has nothing to do with sleeping on a soft mattress.
• The curvature cannot be caused by carrying a heavy backpack or bag.
• Sitting in front of the TV or computer for a long time is not the cause of the problem.

But heredity and congenital diseases are very real risk factors. Scoliosis is very often caused by genetic factors. It is known that parents with scoliosis can give birth to children with the same problem in 30-40% of cases.

Many doctors recommend that if a child is diagnosed with this disease, siblings older than 10 years should also be tested, as there is a high chance of a 'positive' family history.

Benefits of massage

Why is massage used to treat scoliosis in children? This treatment relaxes the stressed part of the back and increases muscle tension, contributing to partial or complete correction of posture. The technology has the following positive effects:

• Strengthening the muscular structure.
• Straightening of the spine.
• Improving the functioning of internal organs.
• Reducing back pain.
• Increasing physical endurance.
• Improvement of local blood circulation.
• Normalization of metabolic processes in the tissues.

The massage helps to reduce the load on the spine and contributes to a significant improvement in the child's well-being.

The use of massage for scoliosis in children

If scoliosis is confirmed by an X-ray diagnosis, the doctor may send the young patient for massage. Timely treatment can prevent further progression of the disease and normalize the condition as much as possible.

Massage for scoliosis is important for.:

• Correction of curvatures;
• improving flexibility of joints and ligaments;
• calming the child's nervous system;
• Alleviation of hyperactivity
• Stabilization of metabolic processes;
• beneficial effect on the epidermis.

Pay attention to the condition of the back muscles with scoliosis

Qualified massage therapists can perform massages that stimulate blood circulation and target the correct trigger points.

Video: 'Why is it important to massage a child with scoliosis?'.

The essence of the method

How the massage is performed depends on the type of scoliosis the child has. But regardless of the exact diagnosis, every massage begins with stroking movements. The child should lie on his stomach on a firm surface with his arms along his torso and his elbows slightly bent. The patient is asked to turn their head to the side opposite the thoracic curvature.

With a C-shaped curvature of the chest It is recommended to start the massage on the concave side. The focus is on the intercostal muscles, which are kneaded with straight movements. Circular movements are intended to relax the long and wide muscles. At the end of the treatment, the trapezius muscle and neck should be massaged.

Massage in the treatment of scoliosis and massage technique

Massage tactics for grades I and IV differ significantly. In the initial stages, massages can also be performed by parents, but in the later stages, professionals are required.

The massage is carried out as a 10-20 day treatment with breaks. As a rule, it is recommended that the patient undergo 3-4 such courses over the course of a year. The duration of the treatment is determined individually and can range from a few minutes to half an hour.

Massage in level 1.

If the angle of curvature is not large and the signs of scoliosis are barely visible, then Alternate stroking, kneading and rubbing of all the muscles of the spine. The pressure should be varied, increasing and decreasing. This tactic is necessary when massaging the intervertebral area and along the entire spine in the paravertebral area.

massage is said to increase the overall tone of the body and activate the regeneration processes.

Stage 2 treatment

To correct visible deformities A more intense, deeper and longer massage is required. It is aimed at stretching the contracted and shortened muscles and normalizing the tone of the stretched muscles.

On the curved side the muscles are tighter.. The massage therapist must take this into account in his work. However, it is not recommended to divide the back into two separate areas. The condition of the curved muscles can also be different on one side.

Massage in stage 3-4

If the curvature angle is more than 30 o The child should only be treated by a professional massage therapist. If there are severe deformations, a differentiated massage is required.

For thoracic curvature, which is characterized by swelling of the ribs and the formation of a muscle roll, toning techniques are used on the raised area. These should be carried out intensively and with high amplitude. If necessary, stressful techniques are used to increase the effect on the muscles.

Clubfoot children's massage at home: special features

To relax the inner and posterior muscle groups of the lower leg, which have increased tone, stroking, muscle shaking, stretching with vibration and kneading are used at a slow pace.

The following techniques can be used to strengthen the stretched and weakened muscles of the front and outer lower leg muscles: vigorous rubbing and kneading or light tapping with the fingers.

It is advisable to do special exercises after heat treatment.

1. The child lies on his stomach. Bend the child's leg at the knee joint; hold the lower leg with one hand and lightly press the child's foot with the palm of the other hand to bend it backwards (to stretch the Achilles tendon and prevent flexion of the sole of the foot).
2. Goal: same. The child lies on his back. One hand presses the child's shins against the surface of the table and fixes them at the ankles. The palm of the other hand rests on the sole and gently bends the foot backwards, simultaneously applying pressure to the outer edge of the foot. This can be combined with a massage of the pressure points at the junction between the back of the foot and the shin.
3. Eliminate forefoot adduction: One hand holds the child's foot at the ankle while the other hand makes gentle stretching movements, gradually pulling the forefoot back outward.
4. Rotate the foot outwards (very gently along the longitudinal axis, gradually lowering the inner edge of the foot and raising the outer edge).

For mild clubfoot, the bandage is applied after the massage and clubfoot exercises (changing the bandage 3-4 times a day, passive corrective exercises and 5 minutes of light massage each time). The mother carries out the bandaging and the masseur massages and checks the condition once a day. It is good to do this immediately after sleeping or heat treatment (bath at 37-38 degrees). (Bandaging with doctor's approval).

Pediatric massage – how it works.

Pediatric differential massage corrects the imbalance between the contracted foot muscles and the weakened and stretched antagonists. This is achieved by the contracted muscles and ligaments becoming flexible and able to perform exercises without cramps, and the stretched and weakened muscles becoming stronger and more flexible.

Children's massage corrects abnormalities in the alignment of the foot, thereby normalizing the functional balance between the muscles of the foot.

Children's massage also restores the supportive and dynamic function of the foot, consolidates the results of the correction and serves to prevent postural problems.

Treatment should begin as early as possible, from the first days of life. It includes: therapeutic children's massage, remedial gymnastics and orthopedic measures.

Follow-up treatment is carried out until the limbs have completed growth (as clubfoot tends to relapse).

types of massage

To create a pleasant psychological atmosphere, it is advisable to use relaxing, gentle music. For pediatric patients, it is advisable to use colorful soft toys to distract from the therapeutic manipulations. The main massage techniques for cerebral palsy in children:

When choosing a technique, the therapist takes into account the symptoms. The treatment is carried out with gentle, calm movements. Patients under 1 year old should be massaged with dry hands. A special oil is used to massage older children and adults. Basic principles:

1. All manipulations are carried out in a gentle way.
2. The muscles are prepared by stroking (for relaxation).
3. Strong pressure and squeezing that causes pain are not allowed.
4. Stimulation of paretic, weak and sluggish muscles is carried out carefully so as not to produce hypertension.

The massage is applied to the neck, arms, legs and other parts of the body.

Classic

Classic massage for cerebral palsy is used to correct movement disorders in children and adults. The massage technique improves the child's general well-being and physical condition. The most important techniques are tapping, rubbing, kneading and stroking. Therapeutic effects:

• Elimination of muscle hypertonicity.
• Relaxation of spasmodic, stubbornly cramped muscles.
• Stimulation of muscles with weakened tone.
• Acceleration of blood circulation for better blood flow to muscle tissue and activation of metabolic processes.
• Stimulating the nervous system response.

The muscles in the chest area are massaged to improve respiratory function. Muscle tension is determined by palpation. Spirometry (measurement of tidal volume and respiratory rate) is used to determine breathing characteristics.

Indications and contraindications

Massage and physical therapy for cerebral palsy are an essential part of treatment. Both exercise and massage therapy must be carried out by a doctor specializing in LFC and a massage therapist with expertise in this area. The methods and techniques are selected individually, taking the key symptoms into account. The main goals of treatment with massage therapy are:

1. Reduction of reflexive muscle reaction, reduction of muscle excitability.
2. Prevention of contractures (limitation of passive movement of a joint, characterized by the inability to fully flex or extend a limb).
3. Reduction in synkinesia (reflex-like, involuntary, similar movement of one limb in response to movement of the other limb).
4. Stimulation of the activity of the muscles affected by paresis.
5. Improving blood circulation, stimulating lymphatic flow.
6. Correction of trophic abnormalities (changes in the vitality and cellular nutrition of tissues, leading to disruption of the structure and function of the affected organs).

The therapeutic exercise complex is selected individually. For pediatric patients, exercises typically include ball exercises, lying and sitting exercises, stretching, and muscle relaxation. The complexes for older children are supplemented by inclined climbing, trampoline, tunnel and jumping exercises.

Water treatments in the swimming pool, including water aerobics, are indicated in parallel. Exercises are regularly supervised by an instructor unless the patient has a fever, symptoms of acute physical illness, or is unwell.

To correct movement disorders in cerebral palsy, various devices and simulators are used that act on muscle tissue and reflex points. Barefoot walking on a mat with a ribbed surface and exercises with expanders are used to develop fine motor skills and the ability to move. Special walking aids with orthopedic insoles are used for exercises with small children.

Symptoms of illness

Only a specialist can detect scoliosis in a child in its early stages. If the spine deviates at an angle of up to 10° from the perpendicular bisector, there are few external signs of the disease. The suspicion of a spinal curvature can only be caused by:

• Unusual posture of the child;
• Irregular protrusion/slumping of the shoulder blades;
• asymmetry of shoulders;
• Abduction of the spine laterally during traction.

The child gradually develops a rib hump in the sternum and limited mobility of the spine. The disease can be easily treated in the early stages. It includes massages and special exercises. The massage techniques for scoliosis in children and the compound exercises are used differently depending on the type and size of the curvature and the general condition of the body.

causes of development

Spinal curvature can be caused by congenital neuromuscular diseases, anatomical abnormalities and congenital injuries. It can also be caused by other causes:

However, the main cause of scoliosis is that the child's muscular corset is weak and the spine is actively forming. The muscles are unable to stabilize the position of the spine, resulting in arching of the spine. For these children, massage is a real lifesaver. She is a lifesaver:

In the early stages of the disease, massage combined with therapeutic exercises helps to eliminate spinal deformity. In the advanced stage of pathology, it alleviates the general condition and helps to reduce the angle of curvature.

What type of doctor massages children with scoliosis?

Scoliosis in children is usually diagnosed during a medical examination. The pediatrician detects the valgus, uneven protrusion of the shoulder blades or the asymmetry of the child's shoulders and refers the young patient for consultation to a doctor of the following specialty:

Peculiarities of technology in children

There are peculiarities when massaging scoliosis in children:

• The sick child must be placed on his stomach.
• The master strokes the chest area and uses relaxation techniques.
• In the next step, the body is rubbed and the area of curvature is treated with vibrations.
• The process is then repeated at the point where the body curves.
• The child should lie on the left side so that the doctor can retract the iliac crest on the right side.
• The patient lies on his stomach and the lower back and the stretch area under the shoulder blades are massaged.
• The chest is massaged while lying on your back.

The process ends here and completes the deletion of the problem areas. For sick children with deformities, doctors often use the Adelie Maxovna Chuntz massage technique, which takes into account all the features of the body.

How often should it be done?

The duration of a massage treatment is between 20 minutes and an hour, regardless of age. This depends on the severity of the disease. The duration of treatment is 10-20 days. After 30 days, less often after 6 months, the doctor may recommend repeating the treatment.

In the case of scoliosis, 2-3 treatments with individually adapted massage techniques should be carried out within a year. With longer and more frequent treatment, the effectiveness of both methods decreases.

It should be noted that in case of illness, massage is carried out together with physiotherapy. A set of exercises is personally selected for the individual. Physical therapy takes place daily or 3-4 times a week. Some of these exercises can also be done at home. Physiotherapy improves the back, strengthens the spine and prevents future curvatures.

What you can do at home

Professionals recommend massaging the speech and facial organs at home to ensure that the treatment is continuous. It can be done at home at any time and children find it easier to confide in someone they trust.

The following massage techniques can be used alone:

1. Finger massage. It is carried out with a tissue or cloth. You can also use ear pads, which are available at the pharmacy.
2. Massage with spoons. These can be used to massage the face and tongue. In this case, the spoon serves as a speech therapy probe. It should be washed and boiled well before the massage.
3. Using a toothbrush. A fluffy brush helps to knead the tongue well. Use the brush to make circular movements around the tongue that mimic brushing to work the lower part of the tongue and the hyoid bone. Note that a new brush should be used for tongue massage, especially one purchased for the course.

The massage can be done at home once or twice a day for 15 minutes. Depending on the form of dysarthria, the massage can be carried out for two to three weeks.

Learning massage techniques is easy. A speech therapist can help you with this. Depending on the diagnosis, age, and severity of the dysarthria, he or she may suggest a variety of exercises.

What you should know

Although speech therapy massage for dysarthria can be performed at home, it should not be done without prior consultation with a speech therapist or neurologist. If the techniques are used incorrectly, harm can occur to a child with dysarthria.

In order for speech therapy massage to be beneficial, the following recommendations must be followed:

• Treatment of dysarthria is carried out by a doctor. All stages must be supervised by a specialist;
• There must be a friendly atmosphere during the lesson;
• The child must lie down during the speech therapy massage. However, in some cases the exercises can also be performed while sitting;
• Speech therapy massage is only effective if approached holistically. It must be understood that the mechanical impact on the speech muscles must necessarily be combined with work on the production of speech sounds and breathing, as well as the development of fine motor skills.

Speech disorders in children are usually diagnosed by the age of five. However, if your child is at risk or you notice speech problems, it is worth seeing a specialist. Because the sooner you start speech therapy massage sessions for dysarthria, the more effective the treatment will be.

Finding a good speech therapist is quite easy today. But it is important not only to assess the professionalism of the chosen specialist. It is very important that he/she builds a relationship with your child. Your child should be happy to take part in the lessons, then the effect of the work done will be more noticeable. This principle also applies to doctors.

The Moscow City Psychoendocrinological Center is a place where you can get advice from doctors of various specialties. There you can get advice from doctors from various specialties.

• Massage for flat feet.
• Massage for varus deformities of the legs in children.
• Footwear for children's clubfoot.
• How to correct a clubfoot in a child.
• Orthopedic shoes for clubfoot in children.
• Clubfoot in children therapeutic exercises 7 years old.
• Clubfoot in 7-year-old children.
• Orthoses for valgus in children.