Neural Mechanisms of Qigong Sensory Training Massage for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Feasibility Study

Jerger, Kristin K.; Lundegard, Laura; Piepmeier, Aaron; Faurot, Keturah R.; Ruffino, Amanda; Jerger, Margaret A.; Belger, Ayşenil

doi:10.1177/2164956118769006

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A recent review on effectiveness and safety of manual lymphatic drainage in breast cancer patients led to the conclusion that such a treatment is safe and provides further advantages over other therapies aimed at decreasing swelling [10]. Consistent with our assumption, there are reports suggesting that massage improves the symptoms of autism [11] even though, in the paper by Jerger et al the massage was not performed with the specific goal of improving the flow of lymph through the deep cervical nodes.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Autism Treatment

Antonucci¹,

Pacini²,

Ruggiero³

2018

Madridge J Immunol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this editorial we propose an approach for improving brain lymphatic flow in autism through lymphatic drainage massage that is a strategy successfully utilized in a variety of neurological conditions where lymph coming from the brain finds obstacles at the level of deep cervical nodes. We estimate that manual lymphatic massage at the level of deep cervical nodes improves brain lymphatic drainage possibly resulting in decrease of neuroinflammation that is a hallmark of autism. In addition to stimulating lymphatic drainage, we theorize that such an approach may work also as vagus nerve stimulation with the additional benefit of targeting the larynx in a manner similar to that outlined for laryngeal manual therapy. This therapy is utilized for the treatment of dysphonia, and its effects on speech, a function that is typically altered in autism, may contribute to the overall improvement of symptoms. We propose that this type of inexpensive, safe and accessible approach can be beneficial to autistic subjects and constitute a new and promising treatment. We are convinced that the described approach will play a pivotal role in future options for autism treatment, possibly in combination with other therapeutic approaches such as behavioral therapies or nutritional supplementation.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Autism Treatment

Antonucci¹,

Pacini²,

Ruggiero³

2018

Madridge J Immunol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Overall, several mechanisms may be involved in the development of Qigong's healthrelated benefits and the specific improvements in some cognitive functions [40][41][42][43]. These benefits may vary according to technique and population, and for that, systematic investigation in the field should be developed using standardised methods and well-developed studies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Qigong Be a Tool to Assist Students in Handling COVID-19’s Resulting Academic Stress?

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has increased students’ stress as they may feel under increased pressure to have a good performance and compensate for the disruption to their education. Improving attention levels and learning capacity may assist in ameliorating academic performance. Qigong is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that appears to have positive effects on the management of mental health and may provide tools for coping with stressful situations. This paper explores data obtained while conducting a previous study and includes an excess of data from a total of 44 participants who were previously divided into an experimental Qigong group and a sham Qigong control group. The improvements in specific auditory processing and reaction times may indicate benefits in attention and learning capacity. These improvements were more pronounced in the experimental Qigong group compared to the sham Qigong group. Qigong may be able to assist in improving students’ academic performance and can be easily integrated into physical education classes. It could also assist students to cope with the increased academic pressure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic context.

show abstract

“…Li et al [ 45 ] indicated that improvement of oxytocin levels and the neural circuits involved in social interaction could be therapeutic for ASD. In a pilot study (not RCT design) by Jerger et al [ 46 ], heart rate variability (HRV) and cerebral oximetry of the prefrontal cortex were used to explore the neural mechanisms of Qigong massage intervention in 20 children with ASD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicine Insufficient Evidence for the Efficacy of Massage as Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Ruan

Eungpinichpong

et al. 2022

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The efficacy of massage therapy in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. This study systematically reviewed the impact of massage therapy on children with ASD according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) declaration guidelines. A literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) electronic databases from inception to December 20, 2020, was conducted using the term “autistic/autism” along with one of the following terms, “massages,” and “Tui na.” The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias Tool. Eight randomized controlled trials examining the impact of massage on children with ASD were included. Interventions combining Qigong massage or Tui na with the control group treatments from once a day to twice a week, for a duration of 15–30 mins, and lasting for six weeks to five months were the main interventions. All reviewed studies reported significant improvement in children with ASD who received massage, especially in the sensory domain, and that massage in combination with control treatment was superior to control treatment alone. However, the overall quality of the available studies is poor with a high degree of heterogeneity. The majority of studies showed a high risk of bias with poor study design, inconsistency in massage protocols, and subjective outcome measures. Assessment bias was a common weakness of these studies. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that massage is effective for ASD. Future studies should include large sample sizes, incorporate double-blind designs, employ appropriate outcome measures, and allow for long observation and follow-up periods. Furthermore, consensus must be reached on standardized treatments and additional therapies in order to provide better quality evidence for the treatment of ASD.

show abstract

Neural Mechanisms of Qigong Sensory Training Massage for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Feasibility Study

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Autism Treatment

Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Autism Treatment

Can Qigong Be a Tool to Assist Students in Handling COVID-19’s Resulting Academic Stress?

Medicine Insufficient Evidence for the Efficacy of Massage as Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About