Effects of Parent-Delivered Traditional Thai Massage on Gait and Heart Rate Variability in Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Researchers tested whether parents giving their autistic children traditional Thai massage could help with heart function and walking. 48 children aged 7-12 received massage twice a week for 8 weeks, or no massage. Children who got massage showed better heart rate patterns that lasted 2 months later. Their walking stride also got longer. Parents can learn this massage technique to potentially help their child's physical wellbeing at home.

This randomized controlled trial examined parent-delivered traditional Thai massage (TTM) effects on heart rate variability and gait in 48 autistic children aged 7-12 years. Participants received 16 TTM sessions over 8 weeks (twice weekly, 50 minutes each) or no intervention control. Results showed significant improvements in heart rate variability measures - reduced low-frequency and increased high-frequency values - that persisted at 2-month follow-up. For gait parameters, only stride length showed significant improvement compared to controls, maintained at follow-up.

Other gait measures showed no significant differences. The intervention was delivered by parents alongside regular school routines, suggesting potential for family-based therapeutic approaches.

Parent-delivered traditional Thai massage shows promise as a home-based intervention for improving autonomic function and some motor aspects in autistic children. The parent-delivery model offers practical advantages for families, though training requirements and broader gait benefits need further investigation.

Single-site study with relatively small sample size (48 children). Limited to specific age range (7-12 years). Most gait parameters showed no significant improvement. Study conducted in China which may limit generalizability to other populations.

To examine the effects of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage (TTM) intervention on heart rate variability (HRV) and gait in children with autism.This was a two-armed, randomized controlled trial conducted at the Haikou Special Education School in Haikou Province, China, between October 2021 and March 2022. A total of 48 children with autism, aged between 7 and 12 years, were selected from the school and randomly divided into either the parent-delivered TTM group or the control group (no intervention) in a 1:1 ratio. In addition to their regular daily school routines, the TTM group received 16 TTM interventions (twice a week), with each session lasting ∼50 min. HRV and gait parameters were measured at baseline, completion of the 8-week intervention, and 2 months follow-up.The results of this study showed that the TTM intervention had a notable positive effect on HRV, with a significant reduction in low-frequency value ( = 0.001), and increased high-frequency value ( = 0.001), compared with the controls, and the advantages persisted during the follow-up period.

However, only the stride length in the TTM group was significantly longer than that in the control group at the post-test ( = 0.039) and follow-up test ( = 0.043), while none of the other parameters of gait comparison showed statistical significance.Parent-delivered Thai massage increased HRV levels and stride length in comparison to the control group, and some effects of the intervention were maintained over the follow-up period. Clinical Trials Registry Identifier ChiCTR2100051355; September 21, 2021.