Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© sensory massage for cerebral palsy

About cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement and posture caused by damage to the brain and nervous system during early development. CP is categorized into spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic CP on the basis of the predominant motor disorder. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by disturbances to sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behaviour. Seizure disorders and intellectual disabilities are also common.

The role of complimentary therapies in CP

At present time there is no way to completely cure CP. However, there are many interventions that can help reduce the difficulties, lessen the pain, widen the range of movement and improve the individual’s quality of life. The treatment approach differs from person to person, depending on each individual’s specific impairments and needs.

In the absence of standard medical drug treatment, many complementary and alternative therapies are widely used and researched for their effects in CP. These include occupational therapy; speech and language therapy; behavioural therapy; movement therapy; aqua therapy; music and massage therapies, and various ‘mind and body’ techniques.

Pressure massage therapy for cerebral palsy

Massage therapy has been shown through research to be very beneficial for children and adults with CP. By stimulating blood circulation and the lymphatic system, massage therapy can lower the pain from spasticity and reduce hypertonic muscle tone. In other words, it can make muscles less rigid.

In addition to improving muscle tone and function, regular massage can increase oxygen intake, regulate blood pressure and heart rate and improve absorption of nutrients and gastrointestinal function. Another benefit that has been reported by parents and observed in research studies is improvements in sleep. Children with CP and other motor delays often have abnormal sensory responses to auditory, visual and especially tactile stimulation, which can also be helped by targeted and regular massage.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese massage for CP

Tui Na massage, acupressure, acupuncture and herbal medicine, have been widely used as an alternative for the treatment of CP in China, in combination with Western medicine and physiotherapy.

Various types of acupuncture, including head and ear acupuncture, have been shown in initial studies to have beneficial effects on pain and physical function in individuals with CP, including improved use of arms or legs, walking, running, and jumping, and reduction in drooling. Acupuncture alone or in combination with other treatment modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine such as Tui Na massage also showed positive effects in children’s measures of independence and social behaviour. Improvement in speech and sleep were also noted.

Why Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© for cerebral palsy?

Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© is affordable and simple to learn. Once learned, the massage can be carried out by parents at home. It does not involve third party involvement or travel to therapy centres.

Daily massage performed by parents provides an opportunity for the child to benefit from regular interaction and physical contact with their parent in a safe and familiar environment of their own home. If carried out at regular times, for example, bedtime, the massage can soon become a part of a routine, such as the child’s bedtime routine, promoting better regulation, relaxation and sleep.

Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© design and principles

Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© is a unique massage therapy developed by Leonid Rozman with the aim of improving physical and emotional well-being of children with cerebral palsy. While it uses the traditional Chinese Tui Na massage as its starting point, and largely follows Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles of enabling internal healing by stimulating body meridians and acupuncture points. However, some aspects of the more traditional massage therapies practiced in the West have also been incorporated into the RM CP©.

For the most part Tui Na Centre – Rozman MethodCP© employs manual hands-on stimulation of acupressure points. In addition to applying pressure with hands and fingers on rare occasions the person applying the massage may use elbows and forearms. The aim of using acupressure in combination with the more familiar standard massage techniques – friction, stretching, joint manipulation, rocking, kneading and tapping – is to reach deeper layers of stiff muscles and ligaments, and to stimulate blood flow, lymphatic toxin clearance and tissue regeneration in those areas.

While the primary aim of this therapy is to improve the physical state of a child or adult with CP and achieve improvement in areas such as pain and joint and muscle stiffness, the design of RM CP© also pays close attention to the emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual. Many of the acupressure points on the head that are stimulated during the session are said by TCM to be linked to anxiety and relaxation, focus and concentration.

Conclusion

Tui Na Centre – Rozman Method CP© is not claimed to be a cure for cerebral palsy! However, based on many parental reports, as well as many positive studies on related touch-therapies and massage therapies that are based on similar principles, RM CP© massage has the potential to ease many of the disabling symptoms that are part of, or often accompany CP.

Many of the parents who have implemented regular daily massage at home have report improvements in motor function and coordination, stiffness, flexibility and posture, stress and tension, improved sleep and concentration, and overall achieving a better quality of life.

In addition, practicing this massage daily can further strengthen the special bond that parents have with their child, and so reduce parental stress and improve their own wellbeing.