News Notes

By Brandon Twyford
[News Notes]

Study Shows Benefits of Foot Massage on Children with ADHD

A study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research investigated the effects of foot massage provided by a mother on the severity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children.

The randomized controlled trial followed 56 children who had been referred to psychiatric clinics affiliated with a medical sciences university in Iran. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The subjects in the intervention group received foot massage from their mothers three times a week for one month. The mothers received massage therapy training before providing the massage. Data was collected using the ADHD questionnaire.

The foot massage intervention was shown to have a significant effect on several ADHD symptoms, including memory and attention deficit, lack of responsibility and organization, lack of cooperation with others, and the total score of symptom severity.

The study authors conclude that massage therapy is an affordable and low-cost care intervention that “together with pharmacotherapy programs can reduce some symptoms of ADHD.”

Read the abstract online at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32724763.  

 

ISPA and CIDESCO Announce New Collaboration

The International SPA (ISPA) Association and CIDESCO, a beauty and spa therapy training organization, are collaborating to elevate and celebrate careers in the global spa industry. This collaboration furthers ISPA’s mission to strengthen the spa industry by working alongside organizations who provide its members with meaningful, industry-advancing resources and opportunities. Through their internationally recognized diplomas and certificates, CIDESCO has been promoting high standards in beauty and spa therapy since its founding in 1946.

Recent ISPA data suggests that nearly half (46 percent) of all spas are actively hiring massage therapists, while more than a third (37 percent) are seeking nail technicians and almost a quarter (22 percent) are searching for estheticians. Often, the greatest challenge to filling these vacancies is finding qualified candidates. ISPA and CIDESCO trust that the collaboration of these two global organizations will respond to that challenge by increasing awareness of and demand for careers in the spa industry, which is critical as spas continue their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.  

 

GSN Planet Launches COVID-19 Sustainability Guide

GSN Planet (GSN) has launched a COVID-19 Sustainability Guide in response to the recent pandemic. The guide was written by GSN’s Sustainability Task Force and is available to the entire wellness industry.

This simplified guide provides inspiration and practical options for businesses and practitioners to evolve during a pandemic that is focused on products and services that are eco-friendly and offer alternative revenue streams. The ultimate goal of this guide is to help those within the spa and wellness industry to make well-informed, environmentally- and socially conscious decisions.

To view the Sustainability Guide online, visit gsnplanet.org/community/covid19resources.