Hořovice, Czech Republic. A Czech initiative is advocating for the integration of complementary therapies, such as Rhythmic Massage, into clinical practice.
Rhythmic Massage, developed by Ita Wegman, is part of the therapeutic spectrum of anthroposophic medicine. This specialized form of massage differs from conventional massage through its gentle, fluid, and rhythmic strokes, which compress the tissue and then release it—entirely without the use of pressure. In doing so, it reaches all tissue layers, including fascia, tendons, and ligaments.
Rhythmic Massage is usually viewed as an alternative therapy and prescribed exclusively by anthroposophic physicians. However, Czech pediatrician and neurologist Kateřina Kraťuková is pursuing a different approach at her workplace—the district hospital in Hořovice. The daughter of two physicians who both practiced anthroposophic medicine, Kraťuková realized early in her medical studies that she wanted to understand bodily processes holistically rather than merely cognitively. She views Rhythmic Massage both as a diagnostic tool—enabling her to assess patients’ heat distribution, blood circulation, and breathing—and as a therapeutic measure that can complement conventional treatment.
After completing her training in Rhythmic Massage therapy at the Ita Wegman Academy Styria in Graz, Kraťuková returned to Prague and found unexpected, strong interest in the method among her colleagues. In 2017, she co-founded the non-profit initiative “Iniciativa pro vzdělávání v rytmické masáži” (”Initiative for Training in Rhythmic Massage”) with other doctors. In collaboration with the Graz academy, the initiative offers comprehensive training in Rhythmic Massage therapy for medical professionals—positioning it not as alternative medicine, but as an integral component of modern clinical practice.
Under Kraťuková’s leadership, a pilot project for integrative pediatrics was thus established at the hospital in Hořovice. There, rhythmic massage and other complementary therapeutic methods are being systematically integrated into pediatric care.
Sources Mahle Stiftung and Berufsverband Rhythmische Massage
Contact Iniciativa pro vzdělávání v rytmické masáži
Translation Paula Boslau
Image THLT LCX
