Shu-Cheng Chen1, Branda Yee-Man Yu1, Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen1, Juan Yu2, Fiona Yan-Yee Ho3, Jun-Jun Yang4, Wing-Fai Yeung5. 1. School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. 2. Pediatric Tuina Health Care Clinic, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, China. 3. Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China. 4. School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, China. 5. School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: jerry-wf.yeung@polyu.edu.hk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current evidence on the effects and safety of massage therapy for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. METHOD: A systematic review of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 case series studies was conducted with a meta-analysis of 4 of the RCTs. RESULTS: Pooled analysis showed that massage produced more improvement in ADHD symptoms in terms of effective rate compared to Ritalin (risk ratio: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.16 - 1.66; P = 0.0004). Individual RCTs suggested that massage was differed significantly from waitlist control in improving the conditions of anxious-passive (mean difference: -11.7; 95%CI [-17.84, -5.56]; P = 0.0002), and asocial behavior (mean difference = - 8.60; 95%CI [-15.87, -1.33]; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that massage therapy is beneficial for treating ADHD in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current evidence on the effects and safety of massage therapy for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. METHOD: A systematic review of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 case series studies was conducted with a meta-analysis of 4 of the RCTs. RESULTS: Pooled analysis showed that massage produced more improvement in ADHD symptoms in terms of effective rate compared to Ritalin (risk ratio: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.16 - 1.66; P = 0.0004). Individual RCTs suggested that massage was differed significantly from waitlist control in improving the conditions of anxious-passive (mean difference: -11.7; 95%CI [-17.84, -5.56]; P = 0.0002), and asocial behavior (mean difference = - 8.60; 95%CI [-15.87, -1.33]; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that massage therapy is beneficial for treating ADHD in children and adolescents.