Inpatient Massage Therapy
Helping Children Heal Through Comfort and Relaxation
Inpatient Massage Therapy
As a leader in pediatric massage therapy, Nationwide Children’s is one of the only children’s hospitals to staff a department of full-time, licensed massage therapists.
At Nationwide Children’s, inpatient massage therapy is integrated into the patient’s overall plan of care, because it helps patients find comfort and get better faster.
Massage therapy uses the gentle application of systematic touch, focusing on specific areas of the body, or the whole body, to promote healing and relaxation. Massage therapy reduces stress and relieves tension and pain. It is believed to increase . Patients may even experience feelings of safety, comfort, well-being, enhanced self-esteem, and reduced anxiety and depression.
Services We Offer
As part of the multidisciplinary medical team, the inpatient massage therapy team evaluates and provides personalized treatment specific to each patient and diagnosis.
The massage therapy team works with every patient and family to identify functional treatment goals and establish individualized plans of care.
Our team has extensive training in hospital-based massage therapy (MT). Our team offers several specializations and certifications, including:
- Burns/Scar tissue MT
- CIMI/Infant MT
- Cranial sacral MT
- Fragile infant/NICU MT
- Lymphatic drainage MT
- Myofascial release MT
- Neuromuscular MT
- Oncology MT
- Trigger point MT
- Sports/Event MT
Who We Serve
The massage therapy team provides services to patients of all ages who have been diagnosed with childhood disease, illness or functional problems. The team even continues to treat adults with congenital diagnoses. From initial diagnosis and onset, during treatment and recovery, through discharge, massage therapy will be part of your child’s entire inpatient medical course.
Inpatient massage therapy works with many specialties and patients, including:
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Prematurity
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome/Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
- Self-regulation and brain development
- Impaired thermoregulation
- Low birth weight
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Berlin heart
- Single ventricles
- Heart transplant
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Tracheostomy
- Ventilator dependency
- Lung transplant
- Childhood cancers
- Bone marrow transplant
- Limb salvage
- Sickle cell disease
- Bleeding disorders
- Migraine headaches
- Seizures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia
- Rumination
- Failure to thrive
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Orthopedic conditions
Types of Therapy
Swedish Massage
The use of touch, including techniques and passive joint movements within the normal range of motion to promote relaxation, calming, and increased circulation.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
The gentle movement of congested fluids in the body to relieve pain, tension and fatigue, and to reduce edema and swelling.
Craniosacral Therapy
Gentle touch to the head, neck, back, and other joints in the body, having a calming and soothing response on the nervous system. It is used for pain relief, headaches, and overall physical health and well-being.
Myofascial Therapy
The use of specific techniques to release tight muscles, or “knots” which have accumulated in the muscle. The pressure may vary from light to moderate or even deep, to relieve pain and numbness, and to increase blood flow to the area.
Meet Our Leadership
Slawomir Sarna
Slawomir Sarna, PT, is the Inpatient Therapies Program Manager at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Our Clinics
Massage Therapy maintains clinics on the main campus of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and at other locations in Ohio.
