Hip dysplasia in newborns and children under one year of age: massage and a set of exercise therapy exercises. Hip dysplasia in children

The cause of a pathological disorder in the structure of the femoral head is called dysplasia. In essence, this is underdevelopment of the hip joint, to which the child’s body is often susceptible. This pathology is often observed in young children. In most cases, the disease can be diagnosed immediately after the birth of a child, in the first month of life. Next, we will look at the symptoms of the pathology and its treatment.

Causes and symptoms of the disease

The pathology consists in the disturbed arrangement of the elements of the hip joint. The formation of joints in newborns is not yet complete; therefore, early treatment is important and effective in diagnosing this disease. All moms and dads need to know the basic signs:

Limiting passive hip abduction. To check, place the baby on its back, slightly bend the legs at the knees, and gently spread them apart. If the joint is damaged, abduction will be limited;
One baby's leg is shorter than the other;
An additional fold on the thigh also indicates asymmetry of the joints and, accordingly, dysplasia.

If you have any doubts, it is better to immediately contact a specialist who will confirm or refute your assumptions. And only after this begin treatment for dysplasia.

In many cases, the mother is informed of the baby's diagnosis immediately after birth. No need to panic. The sooner you take action, the faster you can cure your baby. First you need to register with an orthopedist. He will prescribe additional examinations for the baby within a month and appropriate treatment.

In the early stages, as a rule, massages and special gymnastics help greatly. You can also watch the video to see how to perform them correctly.

Forms of dysplasia

There are several forms of this pathology.

Pre-dislocation. Effectively treated with massage and gymnastics. After treatment, the joint develops normally and does not cause any problems for the child.

Subluxation. It is a change in the joint in which the femoral head moves upward relative to the acetabulum. To form a normal healthy joint, treatment in the form of specialized massages is recommended.

Dislocation. This is a congenital hip displacement. This form is the most severe, but it can also be cured.

To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an ultrasound and x-ray. After which treatment is prescribed. Parents will be able to do massages and gymnastics with their baby themselves. But to do this, they need to know everything about the location of the joints so as not to worsen the situation.

Treatment methods

It is worth noting that with early manifestations, dysplasia in children is not considered a disease. This is a slight deviation in the formation of joints, which, with properly selected comprehensive treatment, can be corrected within a month.

Treatment of dysplasia comes down to fixing the legs in a position that allows the joint to fall into place and acquire ligaments. Parents need to know that the joint comes into place when the hips are moved apart. For example, for prevention, you can put a diaper on your baby one size larger. But this does not apply to the second or third form of pathology.

What treatment methods can be used for hip dysplasia?

Swaddling. You should not “wrap” your legs with a diaper so that they are stretched. It is enough to fix the arms along the body, and the legs should be in a position comfortable for the baby.

Orthopedic devices. They are used for the second or third form of dysplasia; they are a kind of splints or clamps. They fix the legs in a bent, spread state.

Gymnastics or massage. Exercises and techniques are selected by the attending physician. These methods are the most popular and effective. They do not cause any inconvenience to the child.

Operation. Surgery is used only for the most severe cases of dislocation.

Gymnastic exercises

Exercises for developmental pathologies of the hip joint are simple. After training by a specialist, parents can easily work with the child themselves. For convenience, when performing gymnastics, you can watch a training video. Remember that a child’s body is very fragile; your actions must be gentle and careful.

Hip spread

One of the most effective exercises is leg raises. The baby should be placed on his back, clasped his knees and carefully spread his hips to the side. The outer surface of the thigh should touch the surface on which the child is lying. The exercise should be performed for 1-2 minutes.

Hip rotation

The exercise is performed from the same position as the previous one. With one hand you need to hold the place of the hip joint, and with the other the knee, carefully rotating it inward.

Game "okay"

The point of the game is to turn your feet towards each other and clap them like palms.

Bike

The exercise simulates riding a bicycle.

Crawl

Before performing the exercise, the child should be placed on his tummy, with his legs slightly spread to the sides and bent at the knees. You need to place a support under your feet - a soft ball, from which the baby will push off and try to crawl.

Ball exercises

Children should be gradually accustomed to activities with equipment such as a ball. Usually kids like these exercises. The ball relaxes the muscular system well; its use for exercise is indicated not only for dysplasia. The starting position can be either lying on your back or on your stomach.

If the child lies on his back, then an adult fixes his pelvic area and performs rotational movements of the leg. From a position on your stomach, your legs need to be moved apart, bending at the knees.

Water gymnastics

In water, muscles are always in a relaxed state. For hip dysplasia, gymnastics in warm water is most effective. The most effective exercise for children is leg curls.

Any disease can be treated more quickly with the use of comprehensive measures. Therefore, gymnastic exercises can be supplemented with special massages.

If treatment is started at an early stage of dysplasia, then several courses of massage are sufficient for recovery. Massage should be taken more than seriously. If you act incorrectly or fail to follow the recommendations of a specialist, you can cause irreparable harm to infants. To avoid this, watch a video with the correct technique for performing massage procedures.

Massage for hip dysplasia in newborns is carried out daily. It is more effective to do it when the child is in a good mood, is not capricious, is full, and does not want to sleep. For massage, it is recommended to use a changing table or any hard surface on which you must place a diaper.

After two weeks of procedures, you can take a break of 1-2 months. It is also recommended to contact a specialist for observations after each course.

Massage technique

Now let's look at the massage techniques most often recommended by professionals:

Stroking. For several minutes, you need to stroke the outside of your legs from your ankles to your thighs.

Rubbing. Rub your legs with massaging movements. Proceed carefully, do not use force.

Felting. With this technique, you need to grab the thigh with both hands and, as it were, roll the leg.

After the massage, the baby can be given a bath. Despite the effectiveness of massage actions, do not expect immediate results, be patient. The main assistant in all treatment methods will be your good mood.

Baby care

Children with hip pathology need special care and attention. You will have to control their every movement for the treatment to bring quick results. There are several rules that must be followed:

When lying down, the baby's legs should hang slightly to the sides. This position is very relaxing and relieves muscle tension.

All vertical loads must be eliminated. Don’t even try to put the baby on his feet, don’t let him squat.

Carry your child like a “monkey”: you support him by the back or butt, and he wraps his legs around you.

Choose a comfortable car seat for transportation. The child should be comfortable, nothing should prevent the legs from spreading.

When sitting down, the child's legs should be spread apart.

One of the most important functions during human movement is the hip joint; it is more susceptible to stress than others. It is in infancy that his health is established. Be attentive to your children. Remember, proper gymnastics and massage will save the child’s body from surgical interventions in the future. Study, listen to the advice and recommendations of experts. Be healthy!

Source: ogrudnichke.ru

Hip dysplasia, or congenital hip dislocation, is a common pathology in infants, which is congenital and consists of underdevelopment of the structural elements of the hip joint at the time of birth. This in turn leads to mismatch of the articular surfaces and dislocation.

Despite the fact that this diagnosis is very widespread and horrifies parents, congenital dislocation of the hip is perfectly treatable, provided that the pathology is noticed in time and parents have the time and patience to take care of their baby’s health.

In most cases, therapeutic exercises and massage will help with hip dysplasia. In more complex cases, they resort to positional treatment (special fixing orthopedic devices for the child) and surgical correction of the dislocation.

How to suspect a problem in time?

The mother should be the first to understand that something is wrong with the baby, so we pay attention to the signs that indicate congenital dislocation of the hip in a newborn:

The length of a child’s legs is not the same: if a baby lying on his back bends his lower limbs at the knees and moves his heels towards the buttocks, then the knees should be at the same level, if this is not the case, the legs have different lengths;
asymmetric folds on the legs and buttocks, but this sign is often found in healthy children in whom the subcutaneous fatty tissue is simply unevenly distributed;
incomplete abduction of the child’s legs, bent at the knees: in a healthy baby, the angle of this abduction reaches 80-90 degrees; with dysplasia, it is limited, but we must not forget about the physiological hypertonicity of the muscles of a newborn up to 3-4 months, which can create a pseudo-limitation of the abduction of the legs;
clicking symptom: when spreading the legs, the mother feels a characteristic clicking sound in the hip joints.

Asymmetry of skin folds in hip dysplasia

The signs described above are not those that confirm the diagnosis, therefore, if you find them in your child, do not panic - show your baby to a pediatrician and orthopedist. The diagnosis of hip dysplasia is confirmed by ultrasound before 3 months of age; after three months, x-rays of the hip joints should be performed.

Massage for dysplasia

Massage for hip dysplasia is included in complex treatment and is an integral part of it. Therapeutic massage, along with gymnastics, allows us to achieve stabilization of the hip joint, reduction of dislocation, strengthening of muscles, restoration of full range of motion in the joint, and harmonious physical development of the baby.

Massage should only be prescribed by a doctor (pediatrician or pediatric orthopedist); it can also only be done by specially trained medical personnel, for example, a massage therapist who specializes in this disorder in children.

But parents can master not a special therapeutic massage, but a general developmental and restorative one, which will only bring benefits to both a child with dysplasia and an absolutely healthy one. It is recommended to perform it in the evening before bed.

For greater effectiveness of the massage, the child must be in a good mood during the session.

If a child is indicated to wear special orthopedic structures, then massage can be performed without even removing them. In children, not all massage and movement techniques are used, but only stroking and rubbing.

During the massage session, the baby is placed on a flat and hard surface, ideally a changing table;
you need to lay a special diaper under the child that absorbs moisture, since massage movements can provoke urination;
massage is carried out once a day, the course includes 10-15 sessions;
You need to perform a massage only when the child is in a good mood, not hungry and does not want to sleep;
2-3 courses of massage are required with breaks between them of 1-1.5 months.

Scheme of general developmental massage for an infant

The position of the child is lying on his back. We begin to perform light stroking movements on the abdomen, chest, arms and legs. Then we move on to lightly rubbing all the named parts of the body. They also finish with stroking.

The position of the child is lying on his tummy with his legs bent and spread apart. We start by stroking the legs, rubbing them and alternately moving them to the sides. Massage your back and lower back. Next we lower ourselves to the buttocks. Here, in addition to stroking and rubbing, you can use light patting with your fingers. Next, massage the hip joint area and the outer sides of the thighs.

Therapeutic gymnastics for a baby

Therapeutic gymnastics for dysplasia can and should be performed by the child’s parents after they have been trained by a pediatrician or orthopedist. These are not at all difficult exercises that will quickly achieve positive results. You can do them throughout the day, when it is convenient for the child (you need to take into account that the baby is in a good mood, not hungry and does not want to sleep). You can repeat the complex 3-4 times a day. As a rule, children like such activities, especially when their mother conducts them.

Exercise therapy can be performed by parents themselves several times a day

Complex of exercise therapy for hip dysplasia:

The baby lies on his back. Mom or dad bends his legs at the knee and hip joints and slowly moves them apart into a frog pose. Try to do the exercise so that your knee joints touch the surface of the table when you spread your legs.
Prone position. We repeat the previous exercise. We bend our legs at the knees and hip joints, spreading them apart (as when crawling).
Position – lying on your back. We bend straight legs towards the child’s head.
Lying on his back, we straighten the child’s legs. We spread our straight legs to the sides.
We pull the child’s straight legs towards the head and from this position we spread them to the sides.
We put the baby's legs in a half-lotus position, the left leg should be on top.
We alternately bend our legs at the knee and hip joints.
We turn the child onto his stomach. We pull his legs one by one to the level of the pelvis, placing him on his feet.
The child lies on his back. We bend our legs at the knee joints and spread them apart, like opening a book.
The child lies on his stomach. With our right hand we take the baby’s heels and press them to the buttocks, performing a frog.

It is important to remember that any exercises in a sitting or squatting position can only be performed with the permission of a specialist, since such vertical loads can aggravate the dislocation.

Contraindications to massage and gymnastics

There are several contraindications when massage and gymnastics are prohibited:

increased body temperature;
acute infectious disease;
the child has irreducible hernial protrusions;
Congenital heart defect.

Treatment of dysplasia is mandatory, because in case of complications, the child’s gait will not only be impaired, but aseptic necrosis of the femoral head may also occur, which leads to severe disability and the inability to move independently. Exercise and you will defeat dysplasia.

Massage and gymnastics for hip dysplasia are an integral part of the treatment process. This pathology is congenital and is characterized by inferiority of the joint formed as a result of its improper development. In the absence of timely and correct treatment, subluxation or dislocation of the femur may occur. As a result, the child becomes disabled.

Parents are advised to massage hip dysplasia only when the child is in a good mood and ready to play. To make the procedure more convenient, a changing table or chest of drawers is suitable. More than one session per day is not recommended so that the baby does not overexert himself.

The entire course consists of 15 procedures. Treatment must be complete and comprehensive. Therefore, massage for hip dysplasia involves 2-3 courses, between which an interval of 45 days is maintained. It is recommended to place a diaper under the baby during the procedure that can absorb moisture so that he will not be wet if urination occurs.

Relaxation massage technique

Depending on whether the baby is lying on his back or stomach, you need to act differently. The movements can be performed in any order. If the baby wants to look at you, then you need to use light, stroking movements to walk over your arms and legs, chest, and stomach. After this, you can begin to slowly rub the same parts of the body, and finally, stroking is done again.

When the baby rolls over onto his tummy, you need to bend his legs and spread them apart, while stroking and rubbing. It is imperative to use the area of the lower back, back and buttocks (light patting is allowed here). Then the hip joint and outer side of the thigh are directly massaged. Finally, these areas are stroked.

Therapeutic exercises for pathology

Exercise therapy can be performed in a hospital or at home. In the latter case, it is extremely important that parents undergo training initially. An orthopedist or pediatrician should help with this. Like massage for hip dysplasia, simple gymnastic exercises will be invaluable in complex treatment.

It is best if the mother does the procedure at home. It is worth choosing a time when the child is in a good mood. It is allowed to carry out manipulations 3-4 times a day. The complex is as follows:

The child is on his stomach in the “frog” position. You need to take the heel and pull it towards the buttocks.
Alternately bending the legs at the knees and hip joints.
The child is lying on his back, and the parent spreads his legs to the sides (they are straight).
The legs are bent at the hips and knees, and at the moment of spreading the limbs you need to try to reach the table surface with them.
The legs are bent at the knees; they need to be spread apart like “opening a book.”
Raising straight legs towards the baby's head.

Massage for hip dysplasia is done in all, even very small hospitals. This is due to the widespread prevalence of the pathology. A similar disorder is diagnosed in every seventh child. To prevent complications from developing, it is important to start treatment as early as possible.

Main components of exercise therapy

Massage for hip dysplasia in newborns will only be effective if several professional courses are carried out. On average, the interval between them is 3 - 4 months. In addition to this, you should practice at home with your child. There are two types of exercises: massage and gymnastics. The first ones are done once a day, and the second ones - 2 - 3 times.

You need to practice regularly, otherwise the level of effectiveness of treatment decreases. It is forbidden to engage with the baby immediately after eating. Even when the procedure is performed by a professional, the mother should be close to the child. It is important to massage hip dysplasia in children with clean hands, without rings and with short-cut nails.

For better glide, you should use natural oils that do not cause allergies, such as peach or sunflower. The massage is based on rubbing, stroking and spiral movements. The child must be handled carefully so as not to injure the delicate skin.

Preparing for gymnastics

Before any gymnastics activities, the child must be prepared. Otherwise, there is a risk of doing more harm than good. You can start by lightly massaging the outer thighs. This improves blood circulation in the pathological area and warms up the muscles.

The child should be placed on his back, and then with soft but confident movements, stroke the skin in a circle. The duration of the procedure is within five minutes. After this, using moderate force, you can rub the affected joint. For this, circular and straight movements are used.

The preparatory massage for hip dysplasia in infants ends with working out the lumbar area. This will also improve blood circulation, and the child will be prepared for the next exercises. On average, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to warm up.

What rules must be followed

If you plan to perform a baby massage for hip dysplasia at the initial stage, then the baby should initially be examined by a doctor. In the case of a complicated form of the disease, splints will be additionally used, and the wide swaddling technique will also be widely used.

You must adhere to the following rules:

You should only exercise on a hard surface;
before class, place a diaper under the child;
the baby should not want to sleep or eat;
if the baby is tired, stop classes or take a break;
there is no need to immediately increase the load;
It is forbidden to carry out the movement to the end if this moves the splint or swaddling.

For newborns, it will be enough to spend three full circles every day. Thanks to this, it will be possible to cope with the pathology, as well as avoid the development of negative consequences. At each stage, 15 exercises are done.

Complex of basic movements

Therapeutic massage for joint dysplasia includes exercises that will affect the damaged joint. Oddly enough, the greatest effectiveness is achieved when performing simple movements. It is recommended to take the first lesson under the supervision of a specialist (orthopedist or pediatrician).

Basic massage technique for hip dysplasia in the exercise therapy complex:

Hip abduction. The child is placed on his back on a hard surface, for example, a changing table. When the baby relaxes, take him by the knees with both hands and spread them apart. If there is no resistance, your legs can be tilted to the side and down. The feet should touch the hard surface freely. Repeat 15 - 20 times.
Rotation of the joint. The starting position is the same as in the previous exercise. With one hand they take the baby by the joint, and with the other they gently hold the knee. At the same time, it must be smoothly moved forward, while simultaneously twisting the leg inward. Repeat 10 - 15 times.
Leg rotation. The limbs are taken so that each is bent at the knee. After this, they simultaneously make circular movements, reminiscent of a “bicycle”. It is important to maintain smoothness and accuracy of actions. Repeat no more than 20 times.
Leg bending. One limb is bent at the knee, and the other is extended at the same time. Then they change position. Repeat 15 times for each leg.

If you act correctly, slowly and carefully, then therapeutic exercises according to the basic complex will help to quickly restore the normal position of the joint. It is also not recommended to be distracted during classes.

Game moves

Since hip dysplasia is a congenital pathology and is detected in infants, the physical therapy complex includes exercises that children of this age enjoy. It turns out that at the same time he plays with his parents and gets rid of the problem.

During entertainment, parents can clap their feet, which are similar to “claps” with their hands. The baby should be placed on a flat and hard surface, the limbs should be slightly bent at the knees, the feet should be turned towards each other and connected. Rotation of the legs can also be done in the position of natural bend of the knee, carefully moving it in different directions. At this time, you need to imitate the flight of a butterfly.

When such activities are combined with songs, smiles and affectionate communication, children practically do not notice them, which allows them to remain in a relaxed state and engage in activities with pleasure.

Ball exercises

There are two interesting exercises that you can do on a fitball. This is a large gymnastic ball. Although such a simulator seems simple at first glance, it perfectly helps in restoring the natural position of the articulation, and also prepares the child for his first steps in life.

The baby must be placed with his back on the ball. With one hand you should hold it in the lower back area, and with the other, rotate the leg inward, making circular movements. Repeat 10 times. Then they shift the baby onto the stomach, hold it in the same way with one hand, and with the other they take the ankle, move it to the outside and at the same time bend the knee.

It should be understood that the child may be afraid of the ball and the sensations that he will experience on it. You just need to give him time to get used to it. For very young children, such activities are often difficult, and you may have to wait a little.

It is not recommended to work with a child more than five times a day, and for some, even four. Young children often find it difficult to tolerate even passive loads. It is necessary to work on restoring the normal position of the joint every day, but only if the baby is not sick and is in a good mood.

If massage and physical therapy are combined, then you should pause between circles. This will allow the baby to regain strength. As for contraindications to classes, they are minimal. They are limited in the presence of fever, poor health, if a hernia or congenital heart disease has been diagnosed.

Good day, dear readers of my site. This post will be dedicated to a rather sad problem.

Recently, my relative gave birth to a wonderful daughter. And then, during a routine examination, they heard a disappointing diagnosis - hip dysplasia.

What to do, where to run, what medicines to buy—these were the questions that popped into the parents’ heads. But the neurologist reassured them, saying that massage for hip dysplasia in infants will perfectly solve the problem at this stage.

And today I want to tell you how exactly a disease is treated with the help of massage.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital pathology that occurs in utero as a result of addictions or excessive physical activity of the mother.

The problem is underdevelopment of joint structures, which leads to dislocations. Most often, only one joint is affected, but approximately In 18% of cases, the pathology affects both joints.
The disease relates to musculoskeletal pathologies and is diagnosed during a comprehensive examination of the newborn. 1, 2 or 3 months of life.

Pay attention to the characteristic symptom - the asymmetrical arrangement of skin folds in the buttocks.

Ways to eliminate it

Inexperienced parents may think that the pathology may go away over time. As compassionate grandmothers like to say: “It’s okay, it’ll outgrow it.

Our eldest had this, but now everything is fine.” No, it won't outgrow. This is a serious problem that requires the earliest possible treatment.

In orthopedics there are 4 main ways to correct dysplasia:

There is another rather unpleasant method of treating pathology - leg casting. It looks very strange and causes a lot of inconvenience for the child.

But sometimes this is the only way to correct the legs without surgery. On the Internet you can often find pictures depicting this method of therapy.

Massage for dysplasia with the hands of a professional

Specialists prescribe massage treatments immediately after making a final diagnosis. It has long been established that early treatment of pathology contributes to a favorable outcome.

Before going to the massage room, it is important to take a clean diaper, baby powder or special talcum powder and gloves.

Experts do not recommend use creams and oils, as they provide insufficient gliding on the skin.

And such products carefully clog the child’s pores, making it difficult to breathe through the skin.
What does professional massage for joint pathology include:

To begin with, the specialist lightly strokes the baby's body. You should start with your palms, moving to your shoulders, then your stomach, gradually lowering to your feet. After stroking the feet, move directly to the joint area;
The next stage is light kneading of the skin. The movements are carried out according to the same pattern. Kneading should not cause pain or discomfort to the baby;
Rolling the pelvis from one hand to the other. Place your hands on your baby's hips and gently rock them from side to side. Smooth and easy movements are made. The skin of a small patient is not compressed;
Abduction of the hip in a bent position to the side. To do this, the specialist carefully bends the leg brought to the table surface at a right angle and holds it for several seconds. Then he lets go and does the same with the other leg. You cannot bend the limb too much, so as not to injure the fragile tissues of the toddler;
Circular movements of the limb. The baby's leg bends as in the previous exercise, after which the massage therapist begins to easily move it in a circle. Movements are carried out clockwise and counterclockwise. 4-5 movements in each direction per limb are enough;
"Bike". This exercise has been wildly popular since the youth of our grandmothers. During it, an imitation of cycling is performed. In addition to training the necessary parts of the body, the lower abdominal muscles are significantly strengthened;
"Climb". The massage therapist takes both limbs in the knee area. They should not be bent, it is important to keep a straight line. Gradually it is necessary to raise the pelvis and bring the legs towards the head. After this, they must be gently lowered. 3-4 lifts are enough;
Walking in place. This exercise imitates the process of walking. It is necessary to alternately bend the baby’s legs at the knees, as if he were walking independently;
Completion of the massage. First you need to perform patting movements, and then you can do stroking.

Features of massage therapy:

It is necessary to monitor the general condition of the child. Moodiness and reluctance to massage are completely natural reactions. They will pass through a couple of procedures. But if each session is accompanied by real hysteria, it is worth consulting with a doctor to find other methods of therapy;
It is better to conduct sessions in the morning, when the child is more receptive to new things. You should not massage your baby if he is hungry or has just eaten;
Do not under any circumstances attempt to perform a professional massage yourself. The fact is that only a massage therapist knows the correct order and subtleties of the procedure. Attempts at independence can lead to damage to blood vessels under the knees or on the inner surface of the thighs, dislocation of limbs, or disruption of organ function. You can master a light complex for general body strengthening;
Remember that massage is a universal means of treating dysplasia in children. Try to correct the child’s condition using this method.

A competent complex will correct congenital structural defects better than bandages and operations.

Invigorating massage at home

At home, it is necessary to give the baby a general wellness massage every day. Watch the video on the Internet qualified massage therapists and physical therapy doctors.

From these materials you can gain an immense wealth of knowledge and skills. First consult with a specialist about the correct choice of home complex.

Your healthcare professional will approve your choice or recommend other options.
Carrying out an independent strengthening massage is necessary for both very small babies and children after a year. Such complexes will help children master walking skills.
At home you can combine hardening, exercises fitball, therapeutic exercises and massage.

Such an integrated approach to the treatment of illness in toddlers will achieve a positive effect in the shortest possible time.

On forums dedicated to pediatric traumatology and orthopedics, parents often show photos of their children before and after the start of corrective therapy with massage and physical education.

And these photos allow you to believe in successful treatment!

Massage for hip dysplasia in newborns and children up to one year is carried out as part of therapeutic measures. Impact on the problem area speeds up recovery, but it is important to conduct the session correctly to avoid complications.

Why do you need a massage?

Hip dysplasia is a congenital orthopedic pathology that indicates immaturity or insufficient development of the hip joint at the time the baby is born. A child's joints are formed in the womb. Sometimes their development is disrupted; improperly developed or underdeveloped tissues lead to deformation and degeneration of the joint. Because of this, after birth, the baby experiences limited hip mobility and other dysfunctions.

Hip dysplasia in the early stages responds well to treatment, and massage as an auxiliary method has proven itself to be the best. Impact on the problem area helps to accelerate blood flow, due to which cartilage develops faster. And since the main method of treatment is to fix the legs at a right angle, massage helps prevent muscle atrophy. Gradually, elements of gymnastics are added to the massage.

Fact! Dysplasia can also manifest itself in adulthood, leading to subluxations and dislocations.

Effect of massage

Massage for hip dysplasia in children under one year of age is practically the main direction in complex treatment, although it can also be an independent component of treatment. Massage or therapeutic exercises have the following beneficial effects:

Will strengthen the muscles of the joint.
Will restore movement for the correct full physical development of the child’s movements.

Children's massage for DTPS can be done not only by a specialist in this field, but also the parents themselves are able to master the technique of massage, but not therapeutic, but general developmental and restorative. Such a massage will not be able to cure a severe form of dysplasia in an infant, but will be a significant addition or auxiliary to the main massage, which will be performed by an experienced massage therapist.

A massage in a medical facility’s office always starts from the back, gradually approaching the problem area. First, the specialist performs gentle stroking to promote blood flow, then to enhance the effect, he kneads the muscles more strongly. Then, after working the back and lower back, the impact goes to the buttocks and thigh muscles, and the joint itself is worked out.

Recommendations for restorative and general developmental massage

In order for home treatment sessions to be beneficial and not harmful to the baby, you should consult a pediatrician or an experienced massage therapist. The specialist will tell you about the basic rules of massage therapy:

The massage must be performed on a flat, hard surface.
During the massage, the baby should be in a good mood and not feel hungry.
It is necessary to perform a massage once a day for 15 minutes.

You can massage a month-old baby with dysplasia while lying on his stomach or on his back. It is not recommended to conduct sessions immediately after feeding the baby, since regurgitation is possible; it is better to wait 30-40 minutes. It is also better not to massage before bedtime, as the child may become more active and not be able to sleep.

Exercises that are performed when the child is lying on his back:

Holding the baby's legs by the ankle bones, alternately lightly bend and straighten them. Perform the exercise 10 – 15 times.
Hold his knees with one hand, and lightly press on the heels of both legs with the other hand. Try to press on the heels so that the baby’s knees touch his chest. Repeat the exercise several times.
Holding your knees with your hands so that the legs are straight, bend the legs towards the baby’s head, the main thing is not to overdo it. Perform the exercise 2 – 4 times.
Bend your knees, touch your tummy with them and spread them apart. When spreading your legs, your knee should touch the table. Repeat 4 – 8 times.
Bend the right and left legs in turn at the knee and hip joint. Do the exercise 10 – 12 times.
Bend your knees, hold them by the ankles and repeat the “bicycle” exercise for 2 to 4 minutes.

Exercises that are performed when the child is in a lying position on his stomach:

Place the baby so that the legs hang down from the hips. Hold the baby by the shoulder with one hand, and lightly pat or pinch his butt with the other so that he actively moves his legs in the air. The duration of the exercise is 2 – 3 minutes.
Alternately bending the legs under the tummy, try to place his foot on the table (as the foot stands when walking). Repeat the exercise 5 – 7 times.
Press the baby's heels against the buttocks. Repeat 10 – 12 times.
Alternately bend your knees and spread them apart. Do the exercise 5 – 10 times.
Perform spiral kneading movements along the spine with your thumbs, stretching the lower back.

Between exercises, you should give your baby a little rest, performing light stroking from top to bottom (from shoulders to legs). When performing exercises, you should ensure that the baby does not experience discomfort or pain; as soon as it is noticeable that the baby does not like the exercise, you should immediately stop doing it. You can watch the video to learn how to properly perform a massage.

It is not recommended for children suffering from dysplasia to use walkers or jumpers; these devices are aimed at helping the child learn to walk faster. And the parents’ task is to relieve the joints as much as possible and give him more time to get stronger and return to normal.

Massage is usually carried out in between wide swaddling and the use of orthopedic products, the purpose of which is to separate the hips at an angle of 90 degrees. This position of the legs allows the cartilage to form correctly, however, limited mobility also has its disadvantages. To compensate for them, massage should be done daily.

To monitor the condition of the joint, regular examinations by an orthopedist and ultrasound examinations are carried out. After the pathology is cured, the child is considered healthy, although the baby will walk later than his peers. However, in the future he is not recommended to engage in professional sports, especially if it involves heavy loads on the legs (light and weightlifting), and to monitor his weight, since excess weight is extremely harmful to the hip joint. If left untreated, arthrosis may develop after age 20.