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Riley Children's Health has implemented hospital inpatient visitor restrictions to protect patients and help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. View full details for Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health and Riley Children's Health at IU Health North.

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Riley Children's Health

Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic Massage
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Integrative medicine and palliative care specialists recommend therapeutic massage for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. Massage therapy can reduce pain and anxiety and improve some symptoms.

At Riley at IU Health, certified massage therapists offer Swedish style massage using the five basic strokes with techniques that vary from light to vigorous. Each hands-on session is tailored to your child’s age and medical treatment plan. Sessions can vary from an overall gentle relaxation massage to a foot massage, including reflexology or chair massage.

Therapeutic massage has proven benefits, including decreased anxiety, fatigue, joint stiffness, pain and stress. It also helps improve sleep and promotes a general sense of well-being.

What to Expect

What to Expect

All massage therapists at Riley at IU Health are licensed and certified to practice therapeutic massage. You can expect the following from a therapeutic massage session:

  • Therapeutic massage can be done at the bedside (inpatient or outpatient), in a chair or on a massage table in another treatment area.
  • Your child does not need to change into a hospital gown. He or she may wear any comfortable clothing.
  • The massage therapist will determine the best massage techniques for your child by considering his or her age, medical condition and individual needs.

Your child’s massage therapy session will last from 30 minutes to one hour. Following massage therapy, your child can resume regular activity.

Key Points to Remember

Key Points to Remember

  • Integrative medicine and palliative care specialists recommend therapeutic massage for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.
  • Massage therapy can reduce pain and anxiety and improve some symptoms.
  • All massage therapists at Riley at IU Health are licensed and certified to practice therapeutic massage.

Related Conditions & Departments

Related Conditions & Departments

Departments

  • Palliative Care
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Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2023-24

©2025 Riley Hospital for Children at
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Find adult services at iuhealth.org


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