Ortec massage mats in work with children, including those with special needs: a specialist's study

Massage mats are becoming increasingly popular and recognized due to their orthopedic properties. We regularly receive requests for products from children's centers and educational institutions all over Europe. This time, sets of mats were sent to the Czech preschool institution Mateřská škola Týnec nad Sázavou

After using the orthopuzzles, the head of the pedagogical faculty and educator Filip Válek, who works at this institution, kindly agreed to write his observation-research about working with the mats and the children's reactions. In our opinion, this article may be of interest to both end users and those who will use the mats in their work. 

Below is the text of the report with observations and conclusions:

“We included the puzzle mats in the training track along with other elements. As part of the path, the children had foot massages, balance exercises, trampoline jumping, walking on tiptoes, relaxing in soft toy balls and, of course, walking on orthopedic mats. The children were interested in studying the shapes and colors of the puzzle elements. In addition to bright textures such as mushrooms and pine cones, they were also attracted by the high rounded spikes, although the children were initially afraid to step on them. While walking on the puzzles, none of the children expressed displeasure or discomfort, some children responded with surprise to stronger stimulation (cones, high spikes), while others sought even stronger stimulation - jumping, stomping on the puzzles.

Different puzzle shapes - impact and impression

Our set had ten elements, two of each type:

• Mushrooms
• Pine Cones-Acorns
• Grass
• Pebbles
• Spikes

The children rated the mats according to the level of stimulation as follows:

• Grass is the lowest level of stimulation, but the most popular among children. Children who have no experience with orthopedic prophylaxis and who have never used orthopedic insoles responded positively to this texture. For more experienced children, this element was less interesting. No one felt any discomfort. Good for a first acquaintance with orthopedic mats.

• Pebbles - children described pleasant special sensations under their feet, due to the roundness and smoothness of the pebbles they did not feel any special pressure. The stimulation was less intense, but thanks to the interesting shape with gaps between the pebbles, the puzzle still had an effect. This texture was preferred by more sensitive children, for whom it could be even more pleasant than the Grass texture.

• Mushrooms - children liked mushrooms both visually and for their stimulation. Thanks to their smooth surface, they were comfortable, but provided more obvious stimulation than Pebbles. Mushrooms became the second most popular puzzle, which interested all categories of children. For more sensitive children without experience with orthopedics, the mushrooms were a safe maximum, for children who need stronger stimulation, they were also interesting.

• High rounded spikes - children were initially afraid of the height of the elements, but it turned out that they provide noticeable but pleasant stimulation. Even more fearful and sensitive children successfully passed through them. Children who use orthotics or have a well-formed arch immediately perceived them positively.

• Acorn cones - although the cones seemed low, due to the uneven texture imitating real cones and acorns, they had quite a strong impact on the children's feet. Some kids avoided this puzzle after a few plays, others just noted that it was a good stimulation that didn't bother them. One kid loved this puzzle and thought it was the best :)  This is a girl who visits pediatric orthopedics because of problems in the past.

Orthopedics for children with special needs

We were especially interested in testing the puzzles with a group of children with special needs.

1. Mental Disability - a girl with mental retardation liked the pebble puzzles, which were visually appealing due to both the bright color and the sufficient but gentle stimulation. She also liked the Mushrooms. The more pronounced or taller shapes of the mats did not find any interest.
2. Autism - despite initial doubts, the puzzles with stronger stimulation were ultimately more popular with the two children with autism. Both children liked the tall round spikes the most, on which they smiled. The puzzles with less stimulation did not attract their attention. 
3. ADHD/hyperactivity - both children with poorly formed motor skills and more active children were attracted to stronger stimulation, they tried to jump, trample on the mat to increase the impact. On the less stimulating smoother puzzles, on the contrary, they calmed down. The need to trample decreased, although the stimulation remained.

How to Use Massage Mats

The puzzles were used in three ways:

1. Separated from each other, which acted as a realistic walking surface. The children walked at a normal pace, transferring weight as if walking normally.
2. Individual elements in a queue in front of a trampoline, where children stood on the puzzles with both feet for a long time. Some just stood, others stepped over, jumped and actively stimulated their feet.
3. In the form of a track, where children placed their foot on each element, in small steps. This way the steps were more deliberate, directed, with less weight transfer compared to real walking. Some children started to step on the puzzle with their toes, then put their whole foot down.

Overall, the children rated the rug for both its brightness and variety of shapes. Visually, the familiar textures of the puzzles (such as pine cones, mushrooms, shells, placed in a chaotic manner) were more attractive, but the stimulation was more pleasant on puzzles with a uniform, ordered texture (such as blades of grass, rounded thorns or pebbles). Due to the mixed age of the children, the reactions were also very diverse. Younger children with an incompletely formed arch of the foot, as well as children without experience with orthopedic exercises and products, preferred softer stimulation, while older children and those with orthopedic experience preferred stronger stimulation. Thanks to the material, the puzzles did not slip and were pleasant for the feet, optimally hard and retaining their shape.

Orthopedic puzzles for children became a pleasant variety of our usual exercises. Thanks to the simple mechanism of the edges, children could easily assemble them themselves, which also contributed to the development of fine motor skills.”

We read this review with pleasure and interest and could not help but share it with you :) It is very pleasant to produce and sell a product that brings real benefits to children.