Massage and Developmental Delay: What Research Suggests

Parents of toddlers with developmental delays often ask whether massage can support their child's progress and well-being. Research suggests that it may. In a randomized controlled trial, Lu and colleagues (2019) found improvements in motor development and sensory processing among toddlers with developmental delay who received massage. These findings are encouraging because they suggest that positive touch may support not only comfort and relaxation, but also skills that help children participate more fully in everyday life.

Presenting research on massage for young children with developmental delay at the 2026 Georgia Child Health Conference. The slide summarizes findings from Lu et al. (2019).

Reference:

Lu, W. P., Tsai, W. H., Lin, L. Y., Hong, R. B., & Hwang, Y. S. (2019). The beneficial effects of massage on motor development and sensory processing in young children with developmental delay: A randomized control trial study. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 22 (7), 487–495.