Qigong massage treatment for sensory and self-regulation problems in young children with autism: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Autism is commonly associated with sensory and self-regulatory disturbances. This article presents a randomized controlled study evaluating the effect of a 5-month intervention directed toward improving sensory impairment, digestion, and sleep in 46 children with autism < age 6. The intervention, Qigong Sensory Training (QST), is a qigong massage intervention based in Chinese medicine. It is two-pronged: Trainers work with children directly 20 times over 5 months, and parents give the massage daily to their children. Improvement was evaluated in two settings--preschool and home--by teachers (blind to group) and parents. Teacher evaluations showed that treated children had significant classroom improvement of social and language skills and reduction in autistic behavior compared with wait-list control participants. These findings were confirmed by parent data, indicating that the gains had generalized across contexts. A model and supporting data for understanding and treating sensory and self-regulation problems in autism is presented.

• Authors: Louisa M T Silva, Mark Schalock, Robert Ayres, Carol Bunse, Sarojini Budden
• Journal: The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association (Am J Occup Ther) 2009 Jul-Aug Vol. 63 Issue 4 Pg. 423-32 ISSN: 0272-9490 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19708471 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Autistic Disorder (therapy)
• Breathing Exercises
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Massage
• Self Efficacy
• Treatment Outcome