What does this mean and why is it important?
In particular this data is a useful tool to suggest reason for further investigation. For parents as well looking to try new forms of non-pharmacological therapy, it suggests that Thai Massage may prove useful.
To add more evidence
to this discussion, Field
et. al. observed
fewer stereotypical
Autistic behaviours
and improvements
in social relatability.
Where Field et. al. trained parents to massage their own children and were given 15 minutes of massage every day before bed, Piravej et. al. provided treatments from an outside source only twice per week for 8 weeks.
Based on these two studies in conjunction it suggests that more regular massage provides greater benefit.
Unfortunately both study groups were small, so future studies should be expanded to show greater reliability of results.
As an additional self-reported limitiation, future studies should include some biochemical measures of behaviour and mood to increase validity of survey data.
We should also note that a reduction in Anxiety levels is not exclusive to Autistic children - it is a pervasive trait of most therapeutic modalities of touch.
The benefits of Thai Massage can also then be extended to include all associated benefits of reducing anxiety - with both Autistic children, and the general public.