Joint Compression, Brushing: Tactile Stimulation Technique for the Special Education Classroom

As a special education teacher, it is important that you have all the tools possible to help your students succeed. Small classes and individual attention are a great start as are using educational techniques that have been proven to help those differently abled learn better. What if there was a simple technique that could be integrated into the day that would help all of your special ed students thrive? Joint compression and brushing are two easy to use techniques that can be used with most students to help them be calmer and more alert, enabling them to get more out of your curriculum.

To use this technique, first you will need to acquire a brush. It needs to be soft, flat, and easy to hold. The ideal brush is a surgical brush which can be purchased in a medical supply store. If that is out of your budget, a soft bath brush from the dollar store will do.

Brush the student from the finger tips to the shoulder ten times. First do one side and then the other. Do not continue if the student is resistant. Make the brushing time into a game. If you have typical students mixed in with your special students, let them have a turn too. It won't hurt anyone.

Next comes the joint compression. Start at the shoulder. Hold out the arm and gently but firmly hold the shoulder with one hand and the upper arm with the other. Press the joint firmly together and hold to the count of ten. Next compress the elbow. Then compress the wrist. Make sure at each joint that it is straight and in alignment, not bent. The brushing and joint compression should be repeated every two hours for best results.

Because the purpose of the stimulation is to calm and focus the child, it is important not to force anyone to participate. If a student is resistant, see if you can get him or her to start slow. Maybe they will let you just brush them a couple of times. Maybe you can compress just the elbows. After they accept part of the exercise, see if you can add more. Have them watch the other students when they get brushed and compressed. Sing silly songs or talk to them quietly. Use whatever works best for your particular students. You can also let the students brush themselves. This does not provide the same tactile stimulation, but it will get them use to the feel of the brush and make them more active participants in the exercise.

If you find some of your students particularly responding to this technique, you might want to encourage their parents to use it at home too. If the child likes the water, the parents might want to try a loofah instead of a brush in the shower or bath.

Using brushing and joint compression is a great way to provide your special ed students with tactile stimulation. This technique will help with sensory integration, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. Use this exercise regularly, and you will have more alert and focused students.