Child wellness: Massage, stimulation of motor activity

• Massage

Correctly performed massage has a beneficial effect both on the directly treated areas of the body and on the entire body as a whole. This happens because the skin is an extremely complex organ. Massage not only affects various structural layers, muscles, vessels, glandular apparatus of the skin, but also affects the central nervous system, with which the skin is connected through nerve endings, in great numbers embedded in its various layers.

Under the influence of massage, the child grows and develops better. The metabolism in tissues increases, the regulation of hematopoiesis improves, blood circulation increases, tissue nutrition improves: the skin and muscles become elastic and flexible. The body's resistance to infections increases. Massage is extremely useful for prematurity and various diseases: congenital disorders of the musculoskeletal system, hypotrophy, rickets, pneumonia and other diseases.

Since massage has various physiological effects on the body, it is very important to choose the right massage techniques, methods of application and dosage. Otherwise, massage can only cause harm. Therefore, before giving a massage to a child, the mother should learn how to perform its techniques under the supervision of a pediatrician and a doctor of therapeutic exercise.

When massaging children, the following techniques are used: stroking, rubbing, superficial and deep kneading, tapping and vibration.

Stroking. Gentle stroking has a calming effect on the nervous system, helps relax muscles with hypertonicity, increases the tone of blood vessels, improves the child's appetite. The baby gains weight well, his nervous system functions normally, a sluggish child becomes lively, active; an excitable child - calmer, he falls asleep quickly, and the duration of sleep increases.

When performing this massage technique, the palm or back of the hand slides over the baby's body, slightly touching it, as if caressing it. The contact of the hand with the baby's skin at the beginning and end of the technique should be so gentle that the baby barely feels the touch, and the stroking does not cause the skin to turn red. The massage session begins and ends with stroking.

Rubbing. This technique is considered a variant of stroking, however, it has its own characteristics and differs from stroking: when rubbing, the massaging hand does not slide over the skin, but the skin moves together with the massaging hand; massage movements can be performed both along and against the flow of lymph and blood.

Rubbing has a positive effect not only on the skin, but also on the subcutaneous fat tissue, as well as on the superficial muscles. The mobility of the tissues increases, scars and adhesions at the fusion of the skin with the underlying tissues are stretched, the blood flow to the tissues increases, and in this connection their nutrition improves, elasticity and contractility increase. Vigorous rubbing along the nerve trunks or in places where the nerve endings exit to the surface of the body causes a decrease in nervous excitability.

Rubbing is done with the palmar surface of one or both hands simultaneously. Rubbing with both hands is done either separately - both hands move in opposite directions, or together - one hand lies on the other. Rubbing always precedes kneading.

Kneading. This is one of the most complex massage techniques. It consists of grasping, lifting (pulling) and squeezing tissues: grasping and alternately squeezing, squeezing and rubbing, shifting and stretching. Kneading increases muscle tone and contractile function more than rubbing. This technique is considered passive gymnastics for muscles, so it is widely used for their functional insufficiency (low tone).

When kneading, the blood supply to the massaged area increases; the skin becomes red, muscle nutrition improves, which increases their mass, strength, and contractility. Kneading is especially useful if, for some reason, the child's muscles are not sufficiently developed. It helps to establish correct posture and timely development of movements in rickets.

Kneading is done with one or both hands. With both hands, the technique is performed as follows: both hands are placed with the palmar surface, for example, on the thighs, so that the thumbs lie on one side, and the rest - on the other side of the muscle shaft. Then, with the fingers, grasping the tissues on both sides of the thigh as deeply as possible, squeeze and gradually squeeze them, moving towards the body. When kneading with one hand, the same techniques are used.

The massage movements resemble squeezing a sponge soaked in liquid. The technique is most often used when massaging the extremities.

Start with light superficial movements and only later move on to deeper tissue kneading. Massage is performed smoothly, rhythmically, without jerking or twitching muscles. Kneading should be done slowly: the slower it is done, the stronger its effect. After kneading, stroking should be performed.

Vibration. The essence of the technique is to transmit oscillatory movements to the massaged part of the body. The effect of vibration is not limited to the place of its application. It spreads deep inside and along the periphery, causing various responses of the body. Vibration can, for example, enhance or restore lost deep reflexes, have a pronounced analgesic effect, improve the contractile function of muscles and tissue nutrition.

When performing the technique, the hand of the masseur, without moving away from the massaged part of the body, makes various oscillatory movements, which must be performed strictly rhythmically. Vibration can be performed either stably - in one place, or labile - along the massaged surface.

During continuous vibration, the hand of the masseur and the part of the body being massaged form a single whole. During intermittent vibration, the hand of the masseur, touching the part of the body being massaged, moves away from it each time, as a result of which the vibration movements become intermittent and take on the character of separate, successive jolts. Both types of vibration can be performed by the surface of the terminal phalanx of one, two, three or four fingers (except the thumb); the ulnar edge of the palm; the entire palm.

In infancy, vibration is used infrequently, mainly when massaging flabby, overfed babies. In this case, a light rhythmic shaking of the child's body is caused.

Percussion. A series of short rhythmic blows are applied alternately with the back surface of first one, then two, three and finally four fingers of both hands. Percussion improves blood circulation, muscle nutrition, and the activity of deeper internal organs. This massage technique is recommended only for well-fed children.

In addition to classical massage techniques, point massage is also used: pressing with one or two fingers on certain reflexogenic zones; simultaneously rotating the fingers. It is used both for weakened stretched muscles and for increased muscle tone in order to relieve muscle tension. In this case, fast, abrupt and relatively strong pressure causes excitation and tension of the muscles. Slow, soft effects on the same zones, initially with an increase in pressure, vibration frequency, then with a stop and subsequent weakening of the effect (without tearing away from the massaged area), cause a weakening of muscle tension in individual muscle groups.

Massage the infant very lightly and gently. When massaging the arms and legs, they are given the most resting position - a slight semi-bend. When massaging the legs, avoid pushing the kneecap, going around it from the outside and from below, do not massage the inner surface of the thighs, as it is extremely tender. When massaging the abdomen, you need to spare the liver area (right hypochondrium), when tapping the back - the kidney area (lower back).

Thus, massage is the most effective way to prepare the infant's motor apparatus for future physical activity. However, as motor functions develop, this task is increasingly solved by independent movements. Therefore, massage as a means of training should be used only up to six months of age. The use of hygienic and therapeutic massage is also justified at a later date. Massage of newborns and infants must be combined with passive and passive-active gymnastics, which is discussed below.

• Stimulation of motor activity

Physical exercises have a beneficial effect not only on the activity of all organs and systems of the child, but also on his motor activity, and therefore on his psychomotor development. Usually, children begin to do gymnastics at the age of one and a half to two months. However, even in a newborn, motor activity can be stimulated in various ways. The main one is considered to be cold, since at a low temperature, muscle contractions warm the child. Another way is to use the reflexes with which the baby is born and which are given to him to adapt to new living conditions.

Gymnastics classes are held every day at a time convenient for the family. The room where the classes are held is well ventilated, the air temperature in it should not exceed 22 °C. Gymnastics begins 30 minutes before feeding or 45-60 minutes after it. You cannot do gymnastics with your child or give him a massage before bedtime.

Gymnastics classes in combination with massage and hardening are especially beneficial for premature, physiologically immature babies, as well as children with certain developmental deviations. Thanks to gymnastics and massage, many of these deviations can be corrected or disappear without a trace if classes with a child begin in the first weeks of life. Otherwise, developmental deviations worsen, harming the health, physical and mental development of the child. Special therapeutic gymnastics complexes have been developed for such babies. They are prescribed by a doctor. Before you start working with your child, you need to consult a pediatrician and a therapeutic exercise doctor, and if necessary, undergo training in a therapeutic exercise room. Classes with the child are periodically monitored by a doctor.

Premature babies experience normal muscle tone and restored unconditioned reflexes under the influence of gymnastics, massage and hardening. Since the exercises are accompanied by air baths, thermoregulatory mechanisms are also trained, and the child's body's resistance to bacterial and viral infections increases. Premature babies who undergo therapeutic exercise quickly catch up with their full-term peers not only in physical but also in psycho-emotional development. They begin to smile earlier, follow moving objects, which also indicates that their health is approaching normal.

Physical education of healthy premature babies begins at the age of two to three weeks, but only with the permission of a neurologist and a physical therapy doctor, who, taking into account the child’s condition, development, age, birth weight, prescribe exercises and massage, and subsequently monitor the mother.

It is recommended to start therapeutic physical training with exercises based on unconditioned reflexes. On the one hand, these are active exercises, since the child performs them himself. On the other hand, these are gentle exercises compared to passive ones, which adults perform themselves. Exercise complexes for premature babies include positional treatment, therapeutic gymnastics, classical and acupressure techniques. The general requirements for performing gymnastic exercises are the same as for full-term babies. However, the air temperature in the room should be higher - up to 24 °C. In the warm season, therapeutic gymnastics is done with an open window or transom. Some exercises, if recommended by a doctor, are performed two or three times a day.

During the lessons, do not forget to encourage the baby with gentle words, to cheer him up. Remember that when you are working with a newborn, you are already raising him. The baby's success will largely depend on your efforts, patience, goodwill and tenderness.

Healthy full-term babies are usually not given massage in the second half of their life. But this procedure is not cancelled for premature babies, weakened babies, those with hypotrophy, and various developmental deviations.

The law of succession is observed in gymnastic complexes: the child will be able to perform the next, more complex exercise when he has mastered the previous, simpler one. In the seventh or eighth month of life, the baby begins to perform (with your help) new exercises: lifting the body from a position on the stomach or on the back; getting a toy in a sitting position; actively crawling to toys on the knees and with outstretched arms. The previous exercises are performed with a greater load.

At nine to ten months, the baby already sits confidently, stands up, tries to walk in the crib, holding on to its sides. Therefore, exercises that are performed in a sitting and standing position are introduced into the gymnastics complex. In order for the child to strengthen the muscles of the hands and forearms, it is better to use rings in the exercises that he holds on to. To develop coordination of movements, exercises with a ball are introduced. The baby happily reaches for it, takes it in his hands, holds it, pushes it away. And finally, the child walks with the support of an adult. For this, it is better to use reins, which can be made from a belt from a robe. It is passed through the armpits. It is not recommended to lead the baby by the hands, as this can cause curvature of the spine. At eleven to twelve months, the child can perform simple speech commands: "Pick up the doll", "Get the car", etc. The corresponding exercises are included in the gymnastics complex.

Thanks to the maturation of the motor centers in the brain, coordination of movements develops and the child becomes able to perform more complex exercises - for example, the "bridge". This strengthens the muscles of the neck, back of the head, torso and legs.

Already in the first year of life, parents need to worry about the child's future posture. Posture defects are latent in infancy and become apparent at two or three years of age. They can occur if the child is carried on one arm, is seated early, stands on its feet, is led holding one hand, or is allowed to sit for a long time. Insufficiently developed extensor muscles cannot cope with static loads, and this causes a defect in the skeletal system.

To strengthen the large muscle groups that hold the body in the correct position, it is recommended to include in the gymnastics reflexive back extension, lying on the stomach, half-turns of the body, moving the shoulders back, arching the back, bending the legs with bringing them to the stomach, moving from a lying position to a sitting position and back, arching the back - "floating", tense arching on the side - "bridge", support on the hands with a raised body (supported by an adult), getting the ball with support under the stomach and shins.

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