What kinds of behavioral responses might you see during infant massage when utlilizing light touch?
Answer
Occupational therapists are trained in the areas of sensory processing and integration. Typically, patients can have a low threshold to light touch and can have adversive reactions to it. It can also be a positive and stimulating experience preparing them for activity. However, if they cannot tolerate light touch, we might see responses such as: withdrawing, pulling away or arching of the back. It is important to teach the parent or caregiver these positive and negative cues to help them be more responsive and successful with infant massage in the home. Teaching them certain positive signs to look for will allow them to have more family social participation in the activity.
There are certain parts of the body that you want to start with in massage and an order in which to provide the best stimulation (provided on a slide in the course). The face is an area that is very sensitive and that would not be an area to begin treatment.
By looking at the cues the infant is providing and proceeding in a specific manner will maximize their participation and overall success.
Jennifer Pitonyak, PhD, OTR/L, SCFES, CIMI
Jennifer Pitonyak has over 14 years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist in a diversity of practice settings, including early intervention and the neonatal intensive care unit. She holds specialty certification in feeding, eating, and swallowing from AOTA, and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. She is currently on the faculty at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, where in addition to teaching, she collaborates with community partners to develop occupational therapy programs for infants and families. She recently completed doctoral studies in health policy with research on the social and contextual factors that impact breastfeeding duration. Her clinical and research interests include infant and family mental health.
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