Tactile massage can relieve hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit in ADHD. This is the result of a small-scale study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. Young people also found that the massage made it easier to fall asleep.
In the study, 14 young people aged from 15 to 17 years with a diagnosis of ADHD were offered tactile massage once a week for 10 weeks. The massage was given in Trollhättan or Uddevalla, by certified massage therapists according to a specific massage protocol. Tactile massage is a soft and pronounced massage, given with slow and predetermined movements following a specific structure.
Twelve of the 14 young people completed the entire treatment. They were asked to rate their mood and symptoms of ADHD before, during and after treatment. The young people's guardians were also asked how they felt about their child's well-being in different ways, before and after treatment.
Positive effects The results show that hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit were clearly reduced. The treatment also reduced irritation and defiant tendencies. At follow-up, three months after the end of treatment, some of the positive effects seemed to remain.
The lead author of the study is Anna-Carin Robertz, a PhD student at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. She is also a specialist nurse in psychiatry within the NU healthcare system, where she has previously offered tactile massage as a complement to conventional treatment, including to.