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Is Massage Therapy Beneficial for Kids?

Massage therapy has many benefits for people of all walks of life. Regardless of gender, race, height, weight, or age, massage therapy can help….

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Massage therapy has many benefits for people of all walks of life. Regardless of gender, race, height, weight, or age, massage therapy can help enhance the lives of most people. Children can also benefit greatly from massage therapy, especially if they are physically active.

The advantages that massage therapy provides adults are very similar to the advantages that children derive from it. As children mature, they will need guidance and optimal mental and physical health in order to become well-rounded and healthy adults.

Massage therapy can be used as part of an actionable plan in order to help benefit the mental and physical well-being of children. Here, we will break down the reasons why massage therapy can help your kids grow.

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If you have a baby, then your infant can also benefit from massage therapy. Both newborns and babies that are a few months old will benefit from massage therapy. Babies will start to feel better just minutes after having received massage therapy.

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For instance, babies will feel calm and at ease. Massage therapy helps promote relaxation in both adults and infants. Babies will also learn how to self-regulate after a few massage therapy sessions, which will help benefit busy and stressed parents as well.

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Congestion and colic, for example, are common amongst infants. Teething and gas can expected with infants and toddlers. Fortunately, massage therapy is helpful to effectively treat gas, teething, colic, and congestion in infants.

Regular massages will also help babies sleep longer. They will be more likely to sleep through the night without incident with regular massage therapy sessions as well, which will help you and yours get the rest you need.

Massage therapy helps infants, children, adults, and seniors relieve pain and stress, and may also help alleviate certain gastrointestinal issues as well.

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If your child is currently suffering from musculoskeletal discomfort, then your doctor may refer them to a physiotherapist in your area. Children with musculoskeletal ailments or conditions may benefit from regular massage therapy.

Body consciousness and neurological growth may improve after having undergone massage therapy. Both are key in order for a child to grow into a healthy, fit, and mentally stable adult.

Diabetes is increasing in many parts of the world. Some health experts believe that diabetes has reached pandemic levels. Sadly, children are being diagnosed with diabetes at younger and younger ages.

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Obesity among the young has also actually increased over the years due to social media and the promotion of a sedentary lifestyle. Children are less active than they used to be, with many preferring to stay home and play video games or play on their phones or tablets. The good news is that massage therapy can help reduce blood glucose levels, which will help lessen the risk of diabetes in both children and adults.

Many children report suffering from stress, anxiety, and/or depression. Some doctors may recommend powerful drugs in order to sedate children or help them focus at school. Massage therapy serves as a holistic way to help children deal with stress, as it does not involve any drugs or invasive procedures.

Instead, it may help naturally reduce cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a potent stress hormone, so lowering cortisol levels may help elevate mood and reduce the risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure in the future.

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Motor skills will also be improved via massage therapy. Children must have optimal reflexes, agility, and reaction time in order to be alert and fit. Poor motor skills during early childhood development can cause serious problems in the child’s future. You can nip the problem in the bud by taking your child to a physiotherapist so that they can help improve their motor skills during their formative years.

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Children who suffer from cognitive impairments or disorders, such as autism, may also benefit from massage therapy. Children with autism may have trouble expressing or communicating how they feel. They may have problems expressing stress or pain to their parents or caregivers. Fortunately, massage therapy can help benefit children with special needs. It may improve their cognitive, emotional, and even social skills so that they can make more friends.

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Some children with special needs may also exhibit aggressive or antisocial behaviours that are difficult to control. Teachers and parents may become frustrated and thus turn to powerful antipsychotic drugs in order to sedate children with special needs. A less drastic approach involves the use of massage therapy in order to help such children behave in a more socially acceptable manner.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and asthma are also medical conditions that can make it very difficult for a child to live a normal and happy life. All of the aforementioned conditions can cause a child to become very stressed and depressed.

Therefore, your doctor may refer your child to a massage therapist. The therapist will help your child manage stress so that they can live a richer and more fulfilled life. A highly caring, dedicated, and experienced massage therapist may also help children who suffer from skin problems, such as psoriasis.

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Massage therapy will not only help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression but will also increase blood supply in both adults and children. Muscle growth can be enhanced, as will sleep quality in both children and adults.

Massage therapy can be beneficial from infancy onwards. Children today live stressful and hectic lives due to social media, family problems, academic issues, peer pressure, chores, competitive sports, and the latest advancements in technology.

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Even if it is simply for the purpose of helping your children let off a little steam, a massage can help recharge their batteries so that they can perform at their highest level at school or sports.

Health

IIT-K and BFI collaborate to drive healthcare innovation in India

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IIT-K and BFI forge partnership to accelerate healthcare innovation in India

Kanpur, April 17 (IANS) – The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has entered into a strategic partnership with Blockchain For Impact (BFI) to drive advancements in healthcare in India. Under the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Programme, this collaboration aims to nurture innovations in the healthcare sector.

As part of the partnership, BFI will support IIT Kanpur in promoting entrepreneurial initiatives through the Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre (SIIC). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at IIT Kanpur by Prof. Kantesh Balani, Dean of Resources and Alumni (DoRA), IIT Kanpur; and Dr. Gaurav Singh, CEO BFI.

BFI has committed to allocating over $150,000 across three years to develop programmes tailored to healthcare-focused startups at IIT Kanpur’s SIIC. This collaboration harnesses IIT Kanpur’s expertise in fostering entrepreneurship and BFI’s dedication to advancing biomedical research.

Prof. Kantesh Balani, DoRA, IIT Kanpur, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “This MoU will help us share knowledge, support startups effectively, and improve our capacity-building efforts.” Dr. Gaurav Singh, CEO of BFI, highlighted the inspiring work of IIT Kanpur incubatees in healthcare innovation and the alignment of missions to accelerate impactful solutions in biomedical research.

This partnership signifies a significant step towards advancing healthcare innovation in India by leveraging expertise and resources. The collaboration between IITK and BFI holds promise for improving public health and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all.

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Health

Doctors are hopeful that gene therapy could be a breakthrough for haemophilia, a blood disorder

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Gene therapy holds promise for blood disorder haemophilia: Doctors

On World Haemophilia Day, doctors highlighted the potential of gene therapy in treating haemophilia, a hereditary blood disorder. Haemophilia is caused by missing or defective clotting factors and raises the risk of severe bleeding and joint damage. Genetic counselling and screening are crucial for affected individuals. India has a high number of haemophilia cases, but many go undiagnosed due to lack of screening capabilities.

Gene therapy offers a promising approach to treating haemophilia by delivering functional genes to correct the genetic defect responsible for deficient clotting factor production. Recent clinical trials show positive outcomes, including the use of lentiviral vectors at CMC Vellore. While current treatment involves factor VIII infusions, gene therapy may offer a cure for haemophilia, especially in low and middle-income countries.

According to Anoop P, Sr. Consultant – Haematology at Aster RV Hospital, “Gene therapy is a potentially curative treatment for haemophilia.” It allows for editing the faulty gene of a baby inside the uterus, known to be born with haemophilia due to a family history. Ongoing research on gene therapy shows promising results, indicating a potential paradigm shift in the management and cure of haemophilia.

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Health

The Connection Between Daytime Sleep and Increased Risk of Dementia

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How daytime sleep can raise dementia risk

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) Compensating for lack of sleep during the daytime may not be as effective as previously thought, warned Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist based in Hyderabad. According to Dr. Sudhir, daytime sleep is not in sync with the body’s natural clock and can increase the risk of dementia and other psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Sudhir, from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, highlighted in a post on X.com that daytime sleep is lighter and does not fulfill the body’s sleep requirements. He explained, “This fact is supported by numerous studies of night shift workers, who are predisposed to stress, obesity, cognitive deficits, and an elevated risk of neurodegenerative diseases.”

The neurologist pointed out that the glymphatic system, responsible for clearing the brain of protein waste products, is most active during sleep. Therefore, when there is a lack of sleep, the glymphatic system may fail, increasing the risk of dementia. Dr. Sudhir stated, “Glymphatic failure is the common pathway of dementia, leading to the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain.”

Factors such as poor sleep quality, age, sedentary lifestyle, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, sleep apnoea, circadian misalignment, substance abuse, and depression can also suppress or result in the failure of the glymphatic system. Dr. Sudhir emphasized, “Good sleepers tend to live longer, weigh less, have a reduced incidence of psychiatric disorders, and maintain cognitive function for longer periods.”

In conclusion, Dr. Sudhir advised that consistently sleeping well at night can lead to better cognitive function and decrease the risk of dementia and psychiatric disorders. It is essential to prioritize quality sleep to maintain overall brain health and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

–IANS
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