How to massage for an umbilical hernia

An umbilical hernia is more often diagnosed in newborns and infants up to a year old. In adults, this disease develops due to muscle weakness and increased stress on the anterior abdominal wall. The treatment of this pathology is carried out surgically, but in childhood, attempts are still being made to reduce the protrusion without surgical intervention.

Complex therapy includes massage both for pathology in children and for umbilical hernia in adults.

Constipation and accumulation of gases can be factors in the onset of the disease. Massage for umbilical hernia allows you to normalize the processes of digestion, improve intestinal motility, which will eliminate unwanted phenomena that provoke and aggravate the pathology.

How to treat an umbilical hernia

In adults, an umbilical hernia will necessarily be removed surgically. For this, tension or non-tension hernioplasty is used. Without surgery, the disease will progress, which will end with complications such as peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, infringement and necrosis of organs.

But some time before hernia repair, conservative therapy can be performed as part of the preparation for hernioplasty. Non-surgical treatment includes massage of the umbilical hernia, but only in the absence of complications.

In children under 5 years of age, treatment is first carried out with conservative methods. An umbilical bandage is used, gymnastics is performed with the baby, parents massage the abdomen. All this is permissible only with a slight protrusion without complications. If the child is diagnosed with a strangulated hernia with concomitant pathologies, the operation is performed urgently.

With umbilical hernia in adults, a bandage, gymnastics and diet are also shown. Proper nutrition is of great importance, because frequent constipation and bloating can provoke complications.

Massage for hernia in children

Parents can massage the belly of a child with a hernia, after consulting with a pediatrician and a pediatric surgeon. The procedure is performed an hour before feeding, when the baby feels good.

The child should be placed on a changing table or other comfortable surface. The session begins with stroking the whole body. This is necessary to warm up the muscles. Then you can easily rub the skin around the navel in a circular motion in a clockwise direction. Gliding movements are also performed with the palms from the navel to the chest.

The procedure always ends with stroking. Each movement can be performed about 15-20 times.

Rules for implementation and contraindications

How to massage with an umbilical hernia:

You can massage not only the child’s stomach, but the whole body, because its important task will be to improve blood flow and relax the muscles.
During the session, the child should be turned over from the back to the tummy.
Massage should be done daily, giving it from 5 to 15 minutes.
The procedure is performed before or after feeding.
Therapeutic massage does not involve the use of creams and various powders.
The optimum temperature in the room will be 20-22 degrees, the main thing is that the child is comfortable.
The procedure is not performed when the baby is restless and feels unwell.

Types and techniques

With a hernia, the child will benefit from the following types of massage (prescribed by a doctor):

Medical .

Such a massage is always prescribed for a specific purpose. With an umbilical hernia, the procedure is carried out by a professional who also teaches parents the rules of behavior with a child with such a pathology. Therapeutic massage is well suited for children with gastrointestinal diseases. It can be prescribed by a pediatrician - a surgeon, a neurologist, an orthopedist. It usually begins at 2 months of age, according to indications and earlier.

Prophylactic .

General strengthening massage is useful for all babies with a hernia and for its prevention. It is simple, can be performed by parents at home. Before carrying out, it is still recommended to invite or visit a massage therapist who will show what movements are acceptable, depending on age.

To correctional .

Such a massage for an umbilical hernia is suitable for a child after treating the underlying disease in order to consolidate the result. It is prescribed before and after surgery, as well as with a predisposition to protrusion, when there is muscle weakness and problems with the digestive tract.

Massage for umbilical hernia at different ages:

Up to 3 months. A child at this age has an increased muscle tone of the arms and legs. The massage will focus on relaxation. One procedure lasts up to 10 minutes, can be done daily.
About 3 to 4 months. Muscle hypertonicity goes away so you can begin to perform various exercises to strengthen the muscles. At this age, massage of the hands and feet is important, which need to be paid attention even when the session is performed with a hernia.
From 6 months. The baby is already turning over by itself and begins to sit, therefore the development of the muscles of the back and the anterior abdominal wall is important. At this age, general strengthening and medical techniques are suitable for children.
From 9 months. The child tries to walk on his own, and an umbilical hernia can occur during this period, because the load on the abdominal muscles increases. During this period, you can do children's gymnastics with your child and do a relaxing massage.
In the period from 9 to 12 months of life. It is already better to deal with a child in a playful way, because it will be boring for him to be in one position during the massage.

Massage techniques

Universal massage techniques for hernia in children and adults:

P ironing . This is the preparatory and final stage of the procedure. Stroking with the palm of the hand soothes the baby, improves blood flow and relaxes the muscles. You need to iron from the navel to the nearest lymph nodes.
Kneading . It is performed with the middle, ring and index fingers with translational and circular movements. This normalizes the flow of lymph, helps to eliminate edema. You can massage in this way the tummy, back, arms and legs.
In vibration . Frequent tapping with fingers is carried out, intense, but not deep. This gives an antispasmodic effect, improves metabolic processes.
Rubbing . It is carried out to warm up the muscles, improve blood circulation and nourish the tissues. You need to rub the skin gently, performing movements in a clockwise direction.

Pediatricians and surgeons recommend doing abdominal massage for umbilical hernia, combining various techniques, which will allow you to influence the child's body in a complex way. This rule also applies to adult patients.