Squeezes and joint compressions are two excellent ways to provide deep pressure for your child. Why are they so effective? They work so well because of the teeter-totter-like relationship of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
- Sympathetic overdrive: When your nervous system is in “fight or flight” mode. Children with autism are often stuck in this stressed state.
- Parasympathetic state: When your nervous system is calm in “rest and digest” mode.
These two systems cannot be “high” at the same time. So, when you activate your child’s parasympathetic nervous system with squeezes and joint compressions you are, in turn, decreasing your child’s sympathetic nervous system’s predominance.
3 Reasons to Try Squeezes and Joint Compressions Today
1. They help release feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters.
Research shows deep pressure, like squeezes and joint compressions, are an effective way to bring the parasympathetic state up and sympathetic down. Performing these techniques increases the release of:
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
2. You can do them anywhere.
We’ve tested a variety of deep pressure techniques but we love joint compressions and deep squeezes because they’re quick and can easily be done anywhere without any equipment.
3. They’re a multi-tool.
Squeezes and joint compressions provide your child with proprioceptive input. Proprioceptive input means letting the body know where it is in space. This helps your child’s brain feel more organized and calm making them more likely to successfully navigate life’s challenges. Deep pressure techniques can be helpful:
- Before sleep
- Before a stressful situation
- After a stressful situation
- As a daily source of sensory input
If you’ve never tried squeezes or joint compressions with your child before, it can be hard to know where to start. Check out my video for a tutorial my daughter Sophie and I put together and then refer back to the steps below whenever you need a refresher.
How to Perform Squeezes
- Start from the center of the body (shoulder) and move outward (hand)
- Squeeze gently on and off
- Keep your hand in contact with your child the whole time
- Repeat on the other side
How to Perform Joint Compressions
- Start from the center of the body (shoulder) and move outward (hand)
- Be gentle with your compressions yet firm and quick
- Start with one hand above the joint and one hand below the joint
- Do 5-10 compressions per joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers)
- After performing joint compressions on the fingers you can grab each finger individually and slowly and firmly pull outward
- Repeat on the other side
Squeezes and joint compressions are a proven way to help center and calm your child. They’re also an easy technique you can try at home today. As with all sensory activities, you may find this isn’t right for your child. Tune in to their reaction, if they’re not enjoying it stop and come back to it again another day.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing a great job.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as part of creating Your Autism Game Plan.
Do you have a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email me at joya@yourautismgameplan.com
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