Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2024

18 • Massage Therapy Journal

T he Cleveland Clinic describes neurodiversity this way: “Neurodivergent is a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. This means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically.”

Common Conditions You May See in Your Neurodiverse Clients—And How Massage Might Help Kennedy cautions that massage isn’t likely going to help all neurodivergent clients, but may be a great intervention for some neurodivergent people looking for help addressing some of the sensory, emotional and physical challenges common in some conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Dyspraxia. ASD. For some autistic people, body awareness is challenging. In the simplest terms, body awareness in this context is often referred to as proprioception and describes a person’s sense of where their body is in relation to the immediate space around them. “Massage may improve the sense of where their bodies are in space,” Kennedy suggests, “thereby assisting with coordination and spatial orientation.” Additionally, many people with ASD have sensory processing issues that include sensitivities around sights, sounds, smells, touch and balance, to name a few. “Massage can provide a regulated sensory experience, which may help reduce hypersensitivities and improve sensory integration,” Kennedy notes. Pohl accounts for some of these known sensitivities in their practice. “Keeping a scent free room is the first step to making any massage space sensory-friendly,” they explain. “Giving clients the ability to change the temperature of the table, volume or type of music playing, and making weighted blankets available are all sensory accommodations.” Pohl explains you probably won’t be able to make everything in your practice customizable, but doing what you can within your own limitations and giving your neurodiverse clients choices when possible is helpful. “Being explicit about the client being able to request changes is also important,” they add. ADHD. Kennedy suggests that the relaxation and stress relief that is a hallmark of massage therapy may prove helpful for people with ADHD who are looking for ways to increase focus and

But broad and general descriptions should not be mistaken for singular definitions that can be used to encompass every neurodiverse person. “When you know one neurodiverse person, you know one neurodiverse person,” explains Sam Pohl, RMP and co-owner at Metta Integrative Wellness Cooperative, who, as a late-diagnosed autistic person, are themselves neurodiverse. “Everyone is different, and we all have different needs, and those needs can change from session to session.” Ann Blair Kennedy is the associate professor and director of the Patient Engagement Studio at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and a massage therapist with 25 years of experience. Her experience with neurodiversity began young, growing up with an autistic brother and having ADHD herself. Now, she’s raising two neurodiverse kids and describes herself as neurospicy. Kennedy suggests looking at how other fields address meeting the needs of neurodiverse people as a helpful starting point. “Two that come to mind are universal design in education and trauma informed care in health care,” she notes. “Both of those approaches focus on inclusivity, accessibility and the assumption of diverse needs among individuals. Additionally, both these approaches provide frameworks that are proactive rather than reactive, and both emphasize the importance of creating environments where people feel safe and included.” Here, you’ll learn about some—not all— of the common conditions that affect neurodiverse people, along with some helpful ways you can make massage therapy more accessible and comfortable for these clients.

Broad and general descriptions should not be mistaken for singular definitions that can be used to encompass every neurodiverse person.

amtamassage.org/mtj