PMC Special Populations & Clinical Applications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For children who have experienced trauma, which massage approach is most consistent with trauma-informed care principles?
- Proceeding with standard protocols to establish normalcy
- Prioritizing client control, choice, and transparency about every touch (Correct answer)
- Avoiding any verbal communication during sessions
- Performing massage without a parent present to reduce shame
Correct answer: Prioritizing client control, choice, and transparency about every touch
Trauma-informed care requires that clients have control over what happens to their body, clear explanations before each touch, and constant choice in the therapeutic process.
Question 2: A child with torticollis (wry neck) would benefit from massage focused primarily on:
- The shortened, contracted sternocleidomastoid and surrounding muscles on the affected side (Correct answer)
- Both trapezii muscles symmetrically
- The cervical spine's bony structures
- Only the opposite (unaffected) side to balance tension
Correct answer: The shortened, contracted sternocleidomastoid and surrounding muscles on the affected side
Torticollis involves shortening of the sternocleidomastoid on one side; massage targets the contracted muscle to reduce tension and improve range of motion.
Question 3: Abdominal massage for children with constipation should be performed using:
- Counterclockwise, deep kneading strokes
- Clockwise, gentle effleurage following the colon path (Correct answer)
- Rapid tapotement over the lower abdomen
- Deep cross-fiber friction over the sigmoid colon
Correct answer: Clockwise, gentle effleurage following the colon path
Clockwise gentle strokes follow the path of the large intestine (ascending→transverse→descending) to assist peristalsis and relieve constipation.
Question 4: For an infant with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), positioning during massage should include:
- Flat supine positioning throughout
- Head-elevated positioning to reduce reflux episodes during massage (Correct answer)
- Prone positioning immediately after feeding
- Left lateral recumbent positioning only
Correct answer: Head-elevated positioning to reduce reflux episodes during massage
Elevating the infant's head during massage reduces the likelihood of reflux and aspiration, particularly in the prone and supine positions.
Question 5: For children with asthma who are not in an acute episode, massage therapy has been shown to:
- Permanently cure airway hyperreactivity
- Reduce anxiety, improve peak flow, and decrease asthma symptoms over time (Correct answer)
- Replace bronchodilator medication
- Increase mucus production as a healing response
Correct answer: Reduce anxiety, improve peak flow, and decrease asthma symptoms over time
Studies have shown that regular massage in non-acute asthmatic children reduces anxiety, improves peak expiratory flow, and decreases the frequency of symptoms.
Question 6: Children with Down syndrome who receive regular massage therapy may show improvements in:
- Chromosomal structure
- Muscle tone, circulation, and body awareness (Correct answer)
- Language development exclusively
- Cognitive IQ scores directly
Correct answer: Muscle tone, circulation, and body awareness
Massage therapy supports children with Down syndrome by improving muscle tone (addressing hypotonia), circulation, and proprioceptive body awareness.
PMC Special Populations & Clinical Applications 2
For children who have experienced trauma, which massage approach is most consistent with trauma-informed care principles?