General information about massage

Therapeutic massage is prescribed and is an important part of an integrated approach to the treatment of various pathologies, health conditions and (or) physical development, providing a highly effective effect on the child’s body and accelerating the process of his recovery. Also, child massage is carried out for preventive, health and hygienic purposes.

In general, we can say that children's massage is very important for the harmonious physical and mental development of the child, it stimulates the development and growth of muscle mass. Professional massage ensures the maintenance of optimal tone and acts as a kind of irritant to the receptors of the deep layers of the skin, which, without the necessary influence, remain “in hibernation” for quite a long time, becoming more active and developing with a delay, which can lead to the appearance of various abnormalities or even pathologies. All mothers know this at the genetic level, and unconsciously try to influence the receptors through caresses, stroking and “squeezing” their baby, but only a professional children’s massage therapist can perform a truly full effect.

You can start baby massage after 1 month of life. Properly carried out procedures help the child successfully develop motor activity, and are also a very powerful factor in his full and harmonious development, promoting the emergence of positive emotions and developing sociability. It is worth noting that psychologists and pediatricians have established a direct connection between the appearance of the first speech reactions and tactile irritation (stroking), while other forms of communication do not cause such reactions in them. And in combination with certain physical exercises and exercise therapy, therapeutic massage promotes the consistent (age-related) development of psychomotor, motor and mental skills.

In other words, children's therapeutic massage can be indicated for any child starting from 5 weeks of age, regardless of whether he has orthopedic or other pathologies, deviations in physical development, or not.

Indications for baby massage

Professional massage has a very powerful therapeutic, preventive and health-improving potential and is prescribed for the following diseases:

— hip dysplasia;
- increased or decreased muscle tone;
- congenital dislocation of the hip;
- congenital muscular torticollis;
- varus and valgus positioning of the feet;
— scoliosis (in combination with swimming and physical therapy);
— ;
- disturbances in the normal function of the spine;
- pronounced weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- respiratory diseases.

In addition to the above, therapeutic massage is prescribed for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (including helping to get rid of childhood intestinal colic) and after suffering from various diseases.

Contraindications to massage

Children's massage is carried out only in the absence of inflammatory processes in the child, significant skin rashes and high temperature. You should not massage a child if he is overexcited, as increased nervousness leads to hypertonicity of the flexor muscles and suppression of reflexes. Massage is contraindicated for rickets during an exacerbation, for infectious diseases, for cases of femoral and umbilical hernias, as well as for congenital heart disease.

Indications and contraindications for massage in children 3

Contraindications to massage in children 4

Massage sequence 5

Rules for baby massage 7

Conditions for baby massage 7

Requirements for a massage therapist 8

References 10

Introduction

Young children, especially babies in the first year of life, are susceptible to various diseases, since their body is still poorly adapted to life outside the womb. The child’s immune and other systems are not sufficiently developed, and in the first months of life, even the most “harmless” infection threatens the child with serious complications. In this case, medications give very questionable results and often cause allergic reactions in children. In addition, even the most modern antibiotics negatively affect a fragile body.

This is where the indispensable prevention of colds and other diseases comes to the child’s aid - baby massage, which has recently become increasingly popular.

In Europe, for example, it is widespread and gives very good results. With the help of massage, you can not only strengthen the child’s immune system, but also help him gain weight, correct torticollis, flat feet, bowed legs, etc. After all, as you know, at an early age, the child’s body is very pliable and readily responds to any influence.

Children's massage is the only type of massage in the world that has no contraindications, except those imposed on the procedure by a pediatrician for pustular inflammation of the skin, diathesis, high fever or serious organic disease. Nowadays, almost all parents know that even ordinary stroking or rubbing brings a lot of pleasure to the child. And one single child’s smile can lift a mother’s mood for the whole day.

But massage is not only pleasant emotions. It has a therapeutic and preventive effect. In addition, regular exercise promotes both the physical and mental development of the baby.

Children's massage is usually called massage, which is carried out from 2-3 weeks of age to 1 year. Although no one forbids more “adult” children 2-3 years old from doing it. Children's massage is the basis for the future health of a growing person and his full development. It's no secret that in big cities fewer and fewer healthy children are born every year, so baby massage is now more relevant than ever. Even those parents whose children are absolutely healthy do not refuse it. After all, this is not only the prevention of colds, but also the development of finger motor skills, and the basis of physical contact with the child. And in the treatment of various ailments, children's massage brings maximum benefits, without any side effects.

However, massage for children under 1 year of age is inseparable from gymnastics, which is no less necessary for children than massage. You will find recommended complexes for this age, combining massage and special exercises, at the beginning of this book. Then follow complexes for premature children, with deformities of the musculoskeletal system, those who have had ARVI, etc. And at the end of the book you will find a table from which you can find out what your baby should be able to do at the age of 1.5-3 months to 3 years .

Indications and contraindications for massage in children

Special indications for massage in children: - congenital muscular torticollis; - congenital dislocation of the hip, hip dysplasia; - congenital clubfoot; - umbilical hernia; - rickets; - cerebral palsy; - scoliotic disease; - postoperative period; - preoperative period; - congenital spinal defects; - malnutrition, anemia; - pneumonia of newborns, bronchial asthma; - to improve physical development; - birth injuries; - asphyxia (mild form); - lymphatic-hypoplastic diathesis of early age; - chronic bronchitis, pleurisy, atelectasis; - dyskinesia and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract; - diseases of the thyroid gland.

Contraindications to massage in children

Acute febrile illnesses; - skin diseases - purulent and pustular lesions; - osteomyelitis; - tendency to bleeding; - severe forms of malnutrition (hypotrophy, atrophy); - acute inflammatory diseases of the lymph nodes, muscles, bones (emphysema, lymphadenitis, phlegmon); acute arthritis, tuberculosis of bones and joints; - congenital heart defects occurring with severe cyanosis and compensation disorder; - diathesis (acute); - acute forms of jade; - acute forms of hepatitis; - large umbilical, femoral, scrotal hernias with obvious prolapse of the abdominal organs and tendencies to infringement; - significant disorders of the nervous system. Recommendations for parents It should be remembered that the massage technique for each specific disease has specific features. In cases where massage is used methodically incorrectly, is unsuccessfully combined with other procedures, or is prescribed at a stage of the disease when it is contraindicated, not only poor tolerability is possible, but also a deterioration in the patient’s condition. Experts recommend starting massage in a child at approximately 1.5 months of age, and in some cases (for example, with identified pathology) earlier. The procedure can be carried out on a special massage (or changing) table. At home, massage is most often done on a regular table (70x70x90 or 120x80x75 cm), on which they place a folded flannelette blanket, covered with oilcloth (or a special massage mat) and a flannelette diaper. What is the advantage of a massage mat? During massage, babies often urinate; the mat is divided by special grooves into square cells into which all the moisture quickly drains. The baby will not be upset, and the mother will only have to change the diaper. In addition, the baby, lying on the mat, receives a passive “reflex massage”. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 20-22 °C, otherwise the child may freeze. It is advisable to start the massage no earlier than 40-45 minutes after eating. Before the massage, the baby is undressed, washed, and placed on the massage table. The child must be calm. If he is irritable, excited, crying, or refuses the upcoming procedure, then massage cannot be done. How to massage a child? The massage should be carried out with warm, clean hands. Talc, oil and various creams are applied to the child’s skin only if necessary; in all other cases, the massage therapist applies a little cream or oil to his hands - this is necessary to ensure better gliding over the surface of the child’s body.

Sequence of massage

arms, legs, stomach, chest, back, buttocks, back of the legs, feet; This is followed by performing gymnastic exercises. If the room is cool, areas of the child’s body that are not currently being massaged should be covered with a diaper. Since the skin of an infant is very delicate and thin, gentle massage techniques (stroking) are first used, and then other techniques (rubbing and light vibration in the form of shaking and shaking the limbs), as well as kneading, can be gradually introduced. Stroking is performed at the beginning of any massage session and is carried out in order to prepare the massaged area for other elements and techniques of massage. Stroking activates blood circulation, resulting in improved blood supply to tissues and organs. Stroking calms the nervous system, causes muscle relaxation, and helps relieve pain. When stroking the abdomen, avoid putting pressure on the liver area. When stroking the back, the technique is performed along the spine; the spinal column itself cannot be massaged. Rubbing helps relax muscles, improve blood circulation and tissue nutrition. In addition, rubbing has a calming effect on the child’s nervous system. It has a positive effect not only on the skin and subcutaneous tissues, but also on muscles, ligaments and tendons. Kneading calms the nervous system, activates blood and lymph circulation, has a positive effect on joints, ligaments and tendons, as well as muscles (both superficial and deep enough). Kneading also has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Vibration has a positive effect on the child’s nervous system, improves metabolism in the body and has a mild analgesic effect. When massaging children in the first year of life, only certain vibration techniques should be used - such as shaking and shaking. From 3-4 months you can also use light tapping with your fingers. To ensure that your child grows up healthy, back and abdominal massage is recommended to be combined with simple physical exercises. Already in the first months of life, the baby reflexively performs certain types of these exercises. For each child, you should choose your own individual complex, which will correspond to his state of health. A set of exercises must be formed according to the principle from simple to complex. It is important that it includes exercises for all muscle groups, among which the main place should be given to general strengthening exercises. Gradually, you need to increase physical activity by repeating the same exercise. If in the first days of classes the child repeats each exercise 2-3 times, then after a few days you can do 4-5 exercises. The child should not be allowed to become overtired during gymnastics. All exercises should bring him joy. You should consult your doctor about the duration of classes. Gradually, the duration of classes can be increased. It is very important to choose the right massage and gymnastic exercises for your child, so young mothers should consult a doctor. And if the child has indications for conducting classes for therapeutic purposes, then all the more so you should contact a specialist - after all, the modern basis of massage is a clinical and physiological approach when choosing a technique, taking into account the cause of the disease, the characteristics of the course of the pathological process, the functional state of the nervous system, and the age of the child , knowledge of the action of techniques. Therefore, the massage technique for each disease has specific features. It is necessary that the activities evoke positive emotions in the child, and for this the adult needs to establish contact with him. For a small child with a neurological condition, it is especially important to perform massage and gymnastics in a good mood, and only a specialist should conduct the classes. The technical implementation of massage techniques can be shown to parents by a massage therapist at the clinic or a visiting nurse, who must have these skills.

Rules for baby massage

Before the session begins, it is necessary to establish contact with the baby, talk to him kindly, and only after that begin the massage.

Massage and gymnastics should begin with simple techniques and exercises, complicating the procedure and introducing new elements gradually.

When performing all massage techniques and exercises, the baby must be protected from sudden movements and jolts, otherwise various disorders of the joint and ligament apparatus may occur. All techniques and movements must be performed accurately and professionally.

It is very important to observe the child during massage and gymnastics, highlighting those techniques and exercises that give him positive emotions, and starting subsequent massage sessions with them.

Conditions for baby massage

Massage and gymnastics are best done on a hard surface, such as a table. In this case, the table is covered with a flannelette blanket, oilcloth and a sheet, on which the child is placed. It is advisable to position the table so that it is possible to approach the child from different sides. It is necessary to properly support the baby's body when performing exercises. The child's arms, legs, and especially the torso must be grasped very carefully, without strong pressure on the bones that are not protected by muscles, and the head should be protected from bruises. All movements must be performed rhythmically, calmly and smoothly.

You should not speak loudly in class. It is best if calm music is played.

Requirements for a massage therapist

During a massage session, the volume of all the knowledge, skills and abilities of the massage therapist, as well as his professionalism, play a big role. It is important that the massage therapist can win over the patient and strive to help him, making every effort possible. A massage therapist must have such qualities as confidence, poise, and tact. He must convince the patient of the power of massage, therefore, when working, it is very important for the massage therapist to be calm, patient, as well as attentive and friendly towards the patient.
Massage is carried out only according to the methodology, which is based on the diagnosis. The systematicity of massage sessions is of great importance.

It is very important to remember when performing a massage to conserve your energy, which should not be wasted by making unnecessary movements. Movements made by the hands should be soft and smooth, repeated in the same rhythm, but in no case sharp. The massage therapist must be equally proficient in performing techniques with both the right and left hands. When performing a massage, only the muscle group that is necessary for the technique being performed should be involved in the work. For example, if the technique is performed with only the hand, the muscles of the shoulder and forearm should not be used.
The massage therapist's hands should be warm, dry and flexible, as well as resilient and strong.
To make cold and wet hands dry and warm, you need to use warm baths with variable temperatures, as well as rubbing with cologne, lemon juice or an alcohol solution.
To develop arm strength and endurance, it is recommended to use a manual expander and dumbbells. Various sets of exercises and sports activities also have a good effect on arm training.

An important role is played by training the flexibility of the wrist joints; You also need to train your fingers, achieving greater mobility and flexibility.
It is important that there are no abrasions, scratches, or cracks on the massage therapist’s hands, and that the nails are cut short. Under no circumstances should you perform a massage if you have inflammatory or fungal diseases of the hands, since the infection can easily be transmitted to the patient during a massage. Before starting the session, the massage therapist must wash his hands with warm water and soap, and then lubricate them with an emollient cream.
During the massage session, the massage therapist must wear a clean robe, and light, loose shoes must be on their feet. Watches, rings and bracelets must be removed, as jewelry and watches can damage the patient's skin.
It is very important that the massage therapist’s working posture is comfortable. It needs to be changed from time to time, because prolonged massage in the same position tires the muscles very much.
Conversations during a session are not recommended, as this impairs the massage therapist’s breathing, leads to fatigue, and also distracts from work.

It is worth recalling that every massage therapist must have a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology, indications and contraindications for massage. It is necessary to know everything about the physiological effect of individual techniques, to have a clear understanding of the effect of the same technique, which is performed with different strength or tempo. It is also important to remember well when to use one or another technique and when to move from one technique to another.

Bibliography

Krasikova I. S. Children's massage. Massage and gymnastics for children from birth to three years. - 2nd ed., rev. and additional - St. Petersburg: CORONA print, 2000. - 320 pp., ill.;

Verbov A.F. Basics of therapeutic massage. - M.: Medicine, 1966;

Belaya N.A. Guide to therapeutic massage. - M.: Medicine, 1974.

For children under one year old, gymnastics and therapeutic massage are mandatory components of development. The first year of life is the most important; the child gets to know his mother and father, the world around him, learns to communicate, and gets to know the world in its manifestations. Parents often face the question of what to do for the baby’s development during this period, and what procedures are necessary. Does the baby need a therapeutic massage or does he need gymnastics, how many sessions are required.

Massage helps develop fragile muscles, nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems. When choosing a technique, it is important to know the intricacies of the pediatric procedure. For children, the technique is similar to that for adults, but not all techniques are indicated for the first year of life, and not all of them can be done. And those that are shown are performed softly and gently. It is important to decide what type of massage children need - therapeutic or general. Who will perform the procedure – a masseuse or the parents themselves. When to start? Will gymnastics be an addition to the general health improvement course? Among the abundance of literature and videos, it is sometimes difficult to understand. Using video lessons, it is much easier to understand massage techniques than by looking at printed literature. The video allows you to examine every movement of a specialist, so that you can then accurately repeat it.

General requirements for children under one year of age:

1. , perform daily, after 45 minutes. after a meal or 35 minutes before it, before bedtime, the procedure is not recommended, the duration of the massage in one session is 7–10 minutes;
2. ventilate the room in advance, monitor the microclimate (temperature not lower than +22 degrees), carry out the procedure without clothes in the hot season, cover the baby in the cold season;
3. free your hands from watches, rings and bracelets. Warm your hands, put on loose clothes;
4. first find mutual understanding with the child, monitor his reaction, if the baby is dissatisfied, do not perform the procedure;
5. perform gentle movements along the vessels, bypassing the areas of the liver, kidneys and genitals;
6. Massage should not be performed on unhealthy children.

Massage and gymnastics for children under one year old

Gymnastics and massage are integral parts of a healthy lifestyle and upbringing, necessary for a child up to one year old. Gymnastics develops children's muscles and is performed together with massage and water procedures.

The main goal of gymnastics for children is to relax muscles and encourage the child to make independent movements. Gymnastics is designed to develop manual skill, which will allow him to lead an active lifestyle.

Gymnastics also develops large muscles. All requirements for massage are also suitable for performing gymnastic exercises. Video tutorials are available on the Internet that will help you understand in detail the intricacies of the procedure.

Gymnastics for children is divided into developmental, balance and breathing:

• passive exercises, used only from 3 months - designed for natural movements, flexion and extension. The massage therapist helps the baby make natural movements;
• exercises based on unconditioned motor reflexes; by four months, the child begins to bend on his stomach, lifts and stretches his head forward, a massage therapist helps him perform these movements;
• active-passive exercises - sitting down, pulling on the hands, supporting the armpits, light rocking.

Massotherapy

The treatment procedure for children must be prescribed by a doctor. Prescriptions are often made by pediatric surgeons, orthopedists and neurologists. Massage for children up to one year (musculoskeletal system); bronchitis, rhinitis and some diseases of the intestines and nervous system.

There are also contraindications for children under one year of age - acute viral diseases, inflammation of the skin and lymph nodes, arthritis, tuberculosis, hernias, etc. Therapeutic massage should be performed by a specialist who has the necessary knowledge of the baby’s physiology. A professional massage therapist with experience is invited to carry out the procedure. It is better for parents to be present during the session so that contact with a stranger occurs.

Therapeutic massage helps with. The masseur strokes the tummy with light circular movements in one direction and then the other, gradually moving on to pinching. cured by massage sessions. In this case, rubbing and kneading are used. Rub the skin with the pads of your fingers from the spine to the hips or from them to the heels. Knead the skin vigorously, while carefully observing the baby’s reaction. If he feels discomfort and, you need to move on to stroking or stop the procedure.

General massage

The procedure is available for mothers and fathers; it is useful for raising the child’s mood and makes the vital organs work at full capacity. To effectively perform a general massage, you need to know the rules. It is convenient to familiarize yourself with the rules on sites where video lessons are presented.

Make sure there are no drafts in the room. Get your hands in order, they should be clean and warm, your nails should be cut short. Follow the movements of your hands - light, stroking. Each technique should be done 3-5 times.

1. Legs. Perform twisting and stroking. Start with the ankle: knead the ankle joint with two fingers. Move to the knees, gently knead the joints. To massage the hip joint, you need to slightly lift the baby and begin to rotate the bent leg at the knee. At the end of the session, massage your feet using spiral movements of your fingers.
2. . The baby's belly is stroked clockwise with your palms. It is better to raise your legs during the procedure, then the tummy will naturally bend. If the baby is not against the procedure, then you can gently massage the navel area with your fingers. With each movement it is necessary to increase the diameter.
3. Breast. The baby's chest is massaged from its middle to the shoulders, making straightening movements. They also perform diagonal strokes from the chest to the shoulder. Under no circumstances should you apply too much pressure; massage each side in turn.
4. Hands. Hand massage is done by turning the child on his side. The arms are gently twisted, the hands are gently massaged with the finger bones. The elbows are also not ignored, they bend and straighten the arms, shake them, swinging from side to side.
5. Back. Nerve endings extending from the spine are responsible for body functions. Massaging movements help the child calm down, relax and fall asleep. At the same time, there is a rule - you cannot massage the spine itself! While pressing, stroke the back, moving to the leg area, while it is recommended to make light pinching movements. The next technique is to bend the baby’s legs and lightly pull them towards the butt. The baby's hand needs to be pulled to the leg. Make a “boat”, turn the child on his stomach and connect his arms and legs behind his back.

• Be sure to read:

School of Irina Krasikova

The famous book about children's massage, authored by Irina Krasikova, was published back in 2000, but is still popular today. In it, Irina conveys to parents the idea that, along with upbringing and feeding, the child needs proper physical development. We need to help the baby develop physically, and this is just a help for moms and dads.

In the book, the author analyzes in detail the psycho-emotional state of the baby, according to which he proposes developed complexes. Sets of exercises are presented for healthy children, with developmental disabilities, and also for premature babies. The methods developed by Irina Krasikova are based on the research of the oldest Russian pediatricians: A.F. Turra, K.D. Guberta et al. Children's gymnastics has not been forgotten either; exercises suitable for babies up to one year old can also be found in the publication. The book is supplied with illustrations.

• We recommend reading:

Irina Krasikova presented video lessons. The video clips are divided into parts thematically - for infants, for premature babies; there is a separate video on massage techniques for various parts of the body.

When deciding whether to perform health procedures for a child, which is better, on your own or with the help of a professional, you often need to consult a pediatrician. He will tell you which gymnast is suitable for a baby under one year old, what massage sessions, how long it is recommended to perform them, and tell you about the nuances of therapeutic complexes.

Special indications for massage in children: - congenital muscular torticollis; -- congenital dislocation of the hip, hip dysplasia; - congenital clubfoot; -- umbilical hernia; - rickets; -- cerebral palsy; - scoliotic disease; -- postoperative period; -- preoperative period; -- congenital spinal defects; - malnutrition, anemia; -- pneumonia of newborns, bronchial asthma; - to improve physical development; -- birth injuries; -- asphyxia (mild form); -- lymphatic-hypoplastic diathesis of early age; - chronic bronchitis, pleurisy, atelectasis; -- dyskinesia and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract; - diseases of the thyroid gland.

Contraindications to massage in children

Acute febrile illnesses; - skin diseases - purulent and pustular lesions; -- osteomyelitis; - tendency to bleeding; -- severe forms of malnutrition (hypotrophy, atrophy); -- acute inflammatory diseases of the lymph nodes, muscles, bones (emphysema, lymphadenitis, phlegmon); acute arthritis, tuberculosis of bones and joints; -- congenital heart defects occurring with severe cyanosis and compensation disorder; - diathesis (in acute form); - acute forms of jade; - acute forms of hepatitis; - large umbilical, femoral, scrotal hernias with obvious prolapse of the abdominal organs and tendencies to infringement; - significant disorders of the nervous system. Recommendations for parents It should be remembered that the massage technique for each specific disease has specific features. In cases where massage is used methodically incorrectly, is unsuccessfully combined with other procedures, or is prescribed at a stage of the disease when it is contraindicated, not only poor tolerability is possible, but also a deterioration in the patient’s condition. Experts recommend starting massage in a child at approximately 1.5 months of age, and in some cases (for example, with identified pathology) earlier. The procedure can be carried out on a special massage (or changing) table. At home, massage is most often done on a regular table (70x70x90 or 120x80x75 cm), on which they place a folded flannelette blanket, covered with oilcloth (or a special massage mat) and a flannelette diaper. What is the advantage of a massage mat? During massage, babies often urinate; the mat is divided by special grooves into square cells into which all the moisture quickly drains. The baby will not be upset, and the mother will only have to change the diaper. In addition, the baby, lying on the mat, receives a passive “reflex massage”. The temperature in the room should not be lower than 20-22 °C, otherwise the child may freeze. It is advisable to start the massage no earlier than 40-45 minutes after eating. Before the massage, the baby is undressed, washed, and placed on the massage table. The child must be calm. If he is irritable, excited, crying, or refuses the upcoming procedure, then massage cannot be done. How to massage a child? The massage should be carried out with warm, clean hands. Talc, oil and various creams are applied to the child's skin only if necessary; in all other cases, the massage therapist applies a little cream or oil to his hands - this is necessary to ensure better gliding over the surface of the child's body.

What are the indications and contraindications for baby massage? When is it necessary, and when is it better to refrain from this procedure? The answers to these questions are given in this information material on the website Your Child.ru!

Our modern knowledge about the effect of massage on the human body is expressed in the following: massage causes the absorption of inflammatory products and acts on nervous and muscle tissue as an irritant. From this it is clear that the indications for prescribing massage are divided into those cases in which it is necessary to cause the resorption of inflammatory residues in the tissues or to improve the activity of the nervous system and increase muscle nutrition.

The first indications for prescribing baby massage serve as diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in which the use of mechanical force is necessary, both as a means of absorbing and increasing irritability of muscles and nerves. This includes muscle diseases, sprains, tears with hemorrhages and atrophy from inactivity that appear as a result of diseases of the joints, tendons and tendon sheaths. Many diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, such as scars on the skin and its thickening - after abscesses and cuts, are also treated with massage. For numerous joint diseases, massage treatment is closely related to other mechanical treatments; therapeutic exercises. Diseases of the bones - mainly their fractures, are also in some cases treated with massage, which is used, depending on the location of the fracture, immediately to speed up the resorption of the spilled blood, or after some time, when a bone callus has formed and there is a need to speed up its compaction and restore the damaged activity of damaged tissues. Equally important is the use of massage in orthopedics for various types of curvature of the spine, changes in the shape of joints, flat feet, etc.

In the treatment of internal diseases, massage is most often used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract., specifically for chronic constipation and chronic catarrh of the stomach, accompanied by dilation of the stomach. In these cases, massage acts by increasing the activity of the abdominal muscles and stimulating intestinal peristalsis. The ability of massage to cause resorption of pathological accumulations and increase venous circulation serves as an indication for its use in many cases of fluid accumulation in the subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremities, which appears as an expression of a general disease (heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease), and local swelling in the extremities after removal dressings, for varicose veins of the saphenous veins, etc.

Among diseases of the nervous system, there are also many cases for prescribing children's massage. As you know, shaking and stretching of the nerves has a calming effect on the sensitive nerves, therefore all types of neuralgia are treated with massage. Massage and movements are prescribed for a variety of cases of professional cramps that appear in pianists, scribes* and many others. Further, all cases of paralysis are treated almost exclusively with massage and gymnastics. By increasing muscle nutrition, massage and gymnastics protect them from the inevitable degeneration due to inactivity.

General massage is used for many nervous diseases, hysteria and neurasthenia. For diseases associated with tissue nutrition problems: obesity, anemia, diabetes, gout, general massage is also prescribed as a means of influencing fat resorption, the formation of red blood cells, reducing sugar in the urine and increasing overall metabolism.

Contraindications for massage are all diseases accompanied by suppuration, septic diseases, blood clots in the veins, inflammation of the veins, aneurysms, acute inflammation of tissues, malignant neoplasms, nests where poisons of infectious diseases accumulate, which during massage can be spread throughout the body, acute diseases bones, high degrees of cardiac disorders and all febrile diseases with a temperature above 37.5 C.

As well as massage and gymnastics are contraindicated in the following cases:

• for all acute febrile diseases;
• in severe forms of malnutrition (atrophy);
• for purulent and other acute inflammatory lesions of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, muscles, bones (eczema, pemphigus, impetigo, lymphadenitis, phlegmon, osteomyelitis, etc.);
• for diseases accompanied by fragility and pain of bones;
• with rickets at its height and during the acute course of the disease with symptoms of hyperesthesia;
• for purulent and other acute arthritis, tuberculosis of bones and joints;
• with congenital heart defects occurring with severe
• cyanosis and compensation disorder;
• with various forms of hemorrhagic diathesis, especially with hemophilia;
• for acute nephritis;
• for acute hepatitis;
• with active forms of tuberculosis;
• with large umbilical, femoral, inguinal and scrotal hernias, with significant prolapse of the abdominal organs or with a pronounced tendency to strangulation.

Note. In all other cases, if there is a hernia, gymnastics is desirable, but with mandatory preliminary fixation with a bandage.