Can my child have a Massage?

Absolute Body Balance Massage provides a warm and relaxing environment for youth as well as adults. Our therapists are licensed professionals who care about your health and well-being. Absolute Body Balance adheres to the guidelines set in place by the board of massage. Anyone under the age of 18 is required to have a parent or legal guardian present in the massage room. People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from therapeutic massage. Dogs are often massaged in their latter years for arthritis and even race horses for the purpose of performance enhancement. So why would a child get a massage? What could they possibly be stressed out about?

It turns out that kids do have stress in their lives. If exams are coming up, a massage could be a great reward for the hours your son has spent studying. Studies show that employees that receive chair massage during the work day find themselves more focused and productive. Your daughter has a huge soccer tournament coming up and she has been doing extra sprint drills at practice. A sports massage can really help to loosen up the legs where the muscles have been working overtime.

We recommend speaking with your family physician if your child has specific health concerns.
Some benefits of massage for children:
Helps reduce anxiety and behavioral disorders
Can reduce chronic sinus and chest congestion
Helps children who suffer from ADHD to focus better
Promotes general relaxation relief from growing pains
Promotes better attitudes about self-care
Improves overall mood

The Touch Research Institute in Miami, FL has found "Children who learn healthy views of touch...are more likely to grow up to be adults with healthy self-esteem, a sense of appropriate boundaries and long-lasting intimate relationships."

A 30 minute or an hour session would be appropriate for most children. A full body massage would typically include arms, legs, head, neck and shoulder area, and the torso. It is required that the parent or legal guardian remains in the massage room for the duration of the massage so I would recommend bringing something to read. The massage room can be lit enough to allow you to read and still dim enough to promote a feeling of relaxation for the child. We understand that at first it may be difficult to relax, but soon, with everyone focused on their breathing and the soft music playing in the background, the whole room will take on a peaceful energy. Your child has the same choice that you do as an adult, they can undress completely or they can leave all of their clothes on and anywhere in between. With any client proper draping is required. If a child prefers to leave their clothes on there will be no lotion applied to that area. Our therapists are trained in different modalities that would include range of motion, stretching and sports massage techniques that would be more appropriate.

Please call Absolute Body Balance Massage at 919-841-9344 for any questions you may have concerning scheduling a massage for a child.