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Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Field, T; Henteleff, T; Hernandez-Reif, M; Martinez, E; Mavunda, K; Kuhn, C; Schanberg, S
Published in: J Pediatr
May 1998

Thirty-two children with asthma (16 4- to 8-year-olds and 16 9- to 14-year-olds) were randomly assigned to receive either massage therapy or relaxation therapy. The children's parents were taught to provide one therapy or the other for 20 minutes before bedtime each night for 30 days. The younger children who received massage therapy showed an immediate decrease in behavioral anxiety and cortisol levels after massage. Also, their attitude toward asthma and their peak air flow and other pulmonary functions improved over the course of the study. The older children who received massage therapy reported lower anxiety after the massage. Their attitude toward asthma also improved over the study, but only one measure of pulmonary function (forced expiratory flow 25% to 75%) improved. The reason for the smaller therapeutic benefit in the older children is unknown; however, it appears that daily massage improves airway caliber and control of asthma.

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Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

May 1998

Volume

132

Issue

5

Start / End Page

854 / 858

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Pediatrics
  • Massage
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child Behavior
  • Child
 

Citation

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Field, T., Henteleff, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Martinez, E., Mavunda, K., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S. (1998). Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy. J Pediatr, 132(5), 854–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70317-8
Field, T., T. Henteleff, M. Hernandez-Reif, E. Martinez, K. Mavunda, C. Kuhn, and S. Schanberg. “Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy.J Pediatr 132, no. 5 (May 1998): 854–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70317-8.
Field T, Henteleff T, Hernandez-Reif M, Martinez E, Mavunda K, Kuhn C, et al. Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy. J Pediatr. 1998 May;132(5):854–8.
Field, T., et al. “Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy.J Pediatr, vol. 132, no. 5, May 1998, pp. 854–58. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70317-8.
Field T, Henteleff T, Hernandez-Reif M, Martinez E, Mavunda K, Kuhn C, Schanberg S. Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy. J Pediatr. 1998 May;132(5):854–858.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

May 1998

Volume

132

Issue

5

Start / End Page

854 / 858

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Pediatrics
  • Massage
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child Behavior
  • Child