Abstract
This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of massage as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We searched the literature using 16 databases, including MEDLINE, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, six Korean medical databases, China Academic Journal (through CNKI), and three Japanese medical databases. Prospective randomized controlled clinical studies of any type of massage therapy for autistic patients were included. Trials in which massage was part of a complex intervention were also included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane classification. Of 134 articles, only six studies met our inclusion criteria. One randomized clinical trial (RCT) found that massage plus conventional language therapy was superior to conventional language therapy alone. Two RCTs reported a significant benefit of massage over a special education program. The fourth RCT showed beneficial effects of massage compared to wait-list control. The other two RCTs suggested that massage therapy is effective for symptoms of ASD compared with attention control and reading storybooks. However, all of the included trials had a high risk of bias. The main limitations of the included studies were small sample sizes, predefined primary outcome measures, inadequate control for nonspecific effects, and a lack of power calculations or adequate follow-up. In conclusion, limited evidence exists for the effectiveness of massage as a symptomatic treatment of autism. Because the risk of bias was high, firm conclusions cannot be drawn.
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Acknowledgment
MSL and JAL were supported by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (K13130 and K13281).
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Lee, M.S., Lee, J.A., Park, TY., Shin, BC. (2014). Autism Spectrum Disorders and Massage Therapy. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Martin, C. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_132
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_132
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