A new study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice provides preliminary evidence that tactile massage can help alleviate symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. Participants experienced reductions in hyperactivity and inattention, while parents noted improvements in focus and reduced oppositional behaviors. Notably, participants also reported improved sleep quality, with many finding it easier to fall asleep.
ADHD is a condition characterized by difficulties in focus, impulse control, and hyperactivity, affecting around 5% of children and adolescents worldwide. While medications and behavioral therapies are commonly used to manage the disorder, they are not universally effective. Some individuals experience adverse side effects from medication or feel it alters their personality, leading them to discontinue treatment. Additionally, many families seek non-pharmacological approaches to support symptom management.
Tactile massage, a gentle form of touch therapy characterized by rhythmic and slow strokes, has shown promise in reducing stress and improving emotional well-being in various settings. However, there is limited research on its efficacy for ADHD, particularly in younger populations. The new study aimed to explore whether tactile massage could provide a safe, effective, and lasting improvement in ADHD symptoms and associated challenges like sleep disturbances.
“Adolescents with ADHD often face challenges such as hyperactivity, inattention, stress, and sleep difficulties that standard treatments may not fully address. As a specialist nurse in child and adolescent psychiatry, I have observed these struggles firsthand and wanted to explore whether tactile massage, could be a safe and non-invasive option to provide additional benefits in managing these symptoms and improving overall well-being,” said study author Anna-Carin Robertz, a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg and a specialist nurse in psychiatry at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at NU Hospital Group.
For their study, the researchers employed a within-group ABA single-subject design, a method in which each participant serves as their own control. This approach compared changes in symptoms over three distinct phases: baseline (before the intervention), during the intervention, and at follow-up three months after the sessions ended.
Participants included 14 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years, all diagnosed with ADHD. Most were on stable medication regimens for ADHD, while a few were unmedicated. Exclusion criteria ensured that participants did not have severe comorbid mental health conditions, substance abuse issues, or ongoing psychological treatment, allowing the study to focus solely on ADHD symptoms. Participants were recruited through outpatient psychiatry clinics and underwent initial assessments to confirm their eligibility.
The intervention consisted of ten weekly sessions of tactile massage. Each session lasted approximately one hour and was conducted by certified tactile massage therapists following a structured protocol. The massage focused on slow, rhythmic strokes applied to areas such as the back, arms, hands, and feet. The setting was designed to be calming, with dim lighting, soft music, and the use of unscented oils. The same procedures were followed for all participants to maintain consistency.
Data collection involved both self-reported measures from adolescents and parent-reported measures. These assessments tracked core ADHD symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional behaviors, as well as secondary outcomes like sleep quality, stress levels, and pain interference. Measurements were taken before the intervention, during the sessions, after the final session, and three months later.
The study demonstrated excellent compliance among participants, with 12 out of 14 adolescents completing all ten tactile massage sessions. One participant discontinued after three sessions due to unrelated personal reasons, while another attended six sessions, citing illness and scheduling conflicts. Despite initial concerns that the tactile nature of the intervention might exacerbate sensory sensitivities often reported in individuals with ADHD, no participants reported discomfort or adverse effects related to the massage.
“I was impressed by the adolescents’ commitment and willingness to fully engage in the study,” Robertz told PsyPost. “It was particularly encouraging to see so many completing all aspects of the study.”
The researchers found that both adolescents and their parents reported reductions in hyperactivity and impulsivity. These improvements were particularly evident by the sixth session and persisted through the final session and follow-up. By the end of the intervention, none of the participants exceeded clinical thresholds for hyperactivity.
Many participants also demonstrated better focus and reduced inattentiveness during the intervention period. Although some participants showed a slight rebound in inattention scores during the follow-up period, their levels remained significantly lower than at baseline.
Adolescents reported that falling asleep became significantly easier during and after the intervention. Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with ADHD, making this finding particularly meaningful. The improvement in sleep persisted at the three-month follow-up.
Parent-reported assessments indicated reductions in behaviors associated with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). ODD is a condition often co-occurring with ADHD, characterized by persistent patterns of irritability, defiance, and argumentative behavior toward authority figures. At the start of the study, several adolescents met the clinical criteria for ODD, as assessed through standardized parent-reported measures. By the end of the intervention, these behaviors significantly declined, and several participants no longer met the diagnostic threshold for ODD.
“The results suggests that tactile massage may help reduce hyperactivity and inattention in adolescents with ADHD, with potential improvements in sleep and relaxation,” Robertz said. “While not a replacement for traditional treatments, it could complement existing therapies, offering a non-pharmacological option for managing symptoms. Regular tactile massage may promote better focus, calmness, and overall well-being, particularly for those who do not fully benefit from medication or psychosocial interventions.”
While the findings are promising, the study had several limitations. The sample size was small, which limits the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the lack of a control group makes it difficult to determine whether the observed improvements were due to the massage itself or other factors, such as attention from therapists or the structured nature of the intervention.
Future research should involve larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings and explore the long-term effects of tactile massage. It would also be valuable to investigate whether shorter or less frequent sessions could achieve similar outcomes.
“The study’s small sample size, lack of a control group, and variability in participants’ medication use limit the generalizability of its findings and complicate attributing improvements solely to tactile massage,” Robertz noted. “As a complex intervention involving multiple factors like therapist technique, individual responses, and environmental conditions, tactile massage poses challenges to standardization, potentially introducing variability into the results.”
“Based on preliminary findings, my long-term goal is to conduct a larger controlled study with a broader population. This study is part of my doctoral project, Tactile Massage-ADHD (TaMa-ADHD), and the next step explores the qualitative aspects of tactile massage, focusing on their and their guardians’ experiences through interviews and surveys.”
“Tactile massage may not work for everyone, but it could provide a safe and accessible option for many,” Robertz added. “This study also underlines the need for patient-centered approaches to enhance the quality of life for adolescents with ADHD and their families. While its potential benefits remain to be fully established, it may complement existing treatments by addressing symptoms not always managed by medication or psychosocial interventions.”
The study, “Positive effects of tactile massage for adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – A small scale study,” was authored by Anna-Carin Robertz, Carl-Johan Törnhage, Stefan Nilsson, Viola Nyman, and Anne-Katrin Kantzer.