*ADHD - Children showed more on task behaviour in the classroom and were rated as less hyperactive by their teachers following 1 month of twice weekly massages.
*Asthma - Studies showed positive effects of parents massaging their asthmatic children, including increased peak airflow, improved pulmonary function, less anxiety and reduced stress hormone 'cortisol' in the children.
*Autism - Touch sensitivity, attention to sounds and 'ff' task classroom behaviour decreased and relatedness to teachers increased after massage therapy. (Journal of Autism and developmental disorders - T.R.I)
*Cystic Fibrosis - Children receiving daily bedtime massages from their parents reported being less anxious and their mood and airflow readings improved.
*Diabetes - Following one month of parents massaging their children with diabetes, the children's glucose levls decreased to the normal range and their increased dietary compliance increased.
*Down Syndrome - Infants with Down syndrome, improved in muscle tone and in performance on motor tasks following massage therapy.
*Premature Babies - Dr Tiffany Field, director of T.R.I, found that premature babies who were 'specially touched' 3x daily for 10 days gained weight much faster and were able to leave hospital on average 6 days earlier than babies who were not specially touched.
*Pre-term infants who received massage therapy as newborns, showed more optimal cognitive and motor development 8 months later.
*Dallas Psychologist Ruth Rice conducted a study with 30 premature babies after they had left hospital. She divided them into 2 groups,the mothers in the control group were instructed in usual newborn care, while those in the experimental group were taught daily massage.
At 4mths of age those that had been massaged were ahead in both neurological development and weight gain.