Massage for promoting growth and development of preterm and/or low birth-weight infants

Abstract

BackgroundIt has been argued that infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units are subject both to a highly stressful environment -continuous, highintensity noise and bright light -and to a lack of the tactile stimulation that they would otherwise experience in the womb or in general mothering care. As massage seems to both decrease stress and provide tactile stimulation, it has been recommended as an intervention to promote growth and development of preterm and low-birth weight infants. ObjectivesTo determine whether preterm and/or low birth-weight infants exposed to massage experience improved weight gain and earlier discharge compared to infants receiving standard care; to determine whether massage has any other beneficial or harmful e ects on this population. Search methodsThe following databases were searched: the specialized register of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group and that of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field. Searches were also undertaken of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2003), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Psychlit, CINAHL and Dissertation Abstracts International (up to July 1, 2003). Further references were obtained by citation tracking, checking personal files and by correspondence with appropriate experts. Data provided in published reports was supplemented by information obtained by correspondence with authors. There were no language restrictions. Selection criteriaRandomised trials in which infants with gestational age at birth <37 weeks or weight at birth <2500g received systematic tactile stimulation by human hands. At least one outcome assessing weight gain, length of stay, behaviour or development must be reported. Data collection and analysisData extracted from each trial were baseline characteristics of sample, weight gain, length of stay and behavioural and developmental outcomes. Physiological and biochemical outcomes were not recorded. Data were extracted by three reviewers independently. Statistical analysis was conducted using the standard Cochrane Collaboration methods. Main resultsMassage interventions improved daily weight gain by 5.1g (95% CI 3.5, 6.7g). There is no evidence that gentle, still touch is of benefit (increase in daily weight gain 0.2g; 95% CI -1.2, 1.6g). Massage interventions also appeared to reduce length of stay by 4.5 days (95% Massage for promoting growth and development of preterm and/or low birth-weight infants (Review)

Parent-Performed Infant Massage for Improving Parental Mental State Within 18 Months Postpartum: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding general mood, only one study observed this outcome and suggested that PPIM for several days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is beneficial to maternal mood during hospitalization after birth. It is worth mentioning that none of the studies reported side effects of PPIM, which is consistent with previous findings (Abdallah et al, 2013; Badr et al, 2015; Bennett et al, 2013; Field, 2014; Underdown et al, 2006; Vickers et al, 2004).…”

Parent-Performed Infant Massage for Improving Parental Mental State Within 18 Months Postpartum: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding general mood, only one study observed this outcome and suggested that PPIM for several days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is beneficial to maternal mood during hospitalization after birth. It is worth mentioning that none of the studies reported side effects of PPIM, which is consistent with previous findings (Abdallah et al, 2013; Badr et al, 2015; Bennett et al, 2013; Field, 2014; Underdown et al, 2006; Vickers et al, 2004).…”

Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review

“…Full body massage had a positive effect on premature infants’ weight gain. The positive effect of infant massage on weight gain in premature infants has also been demonstrated in other studies [ 2 , 43 , 44 ]. Additional studies also report the beneficial effects of infant massage on weight gain in non-premature infants [ 1 , 2 , 10 , 43 , 45 ].…”

Massage Improves Growth Quality by Decreasing Body Fat Deposition in Male Preterm Infants

“…Although advocated to improve weight gain [6,7], we did not find a massage benefit to weight gain in our study cohort of preterm infants. Recent investigations of massage and preterm infants are inconsistent with only 50% reporting greater weight gain.…”

“…Infant massage decreases post-massage cortisol levels as well as blood pressure. [7] Further we have shown improved autonomic nervous system maturation and parasympathetic activity in massage infants with a greater response noted in male compared with female preterm infants. [5] We now present evidence that twice-daily massage decreases subcutaneous fat deposition in male preterm infants.…”

Parent-Performed Infant Massage for Improving Parental Mental State Within 18 Months Postpartum: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding general mood, only one study observed this outcome and suggested that PPIM for several days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is beneficial to maternal mood during hospitalization after birth. It is worth mentioning that none of the studies reported side effects of PPIM, which is consistent with previous findings (Abdallah et al, 2013; Badr et al, 2015; Bennett et al, 2013; Field, 2014; Underdown et al, 2006; Vickers et al, 2004).…”

Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review

“…Full body massage had a positive effect on premature infants’ weight gain. The positive effect of infant massage on weight gain in premature infants has also been demonstrated in other studies [ 2 , 43 , 44 ]. Additional studies also report the beneficial effects of infant massage on weight gain in non-premature infants [ 1 , 2 , 10 , 43 , 45 ].…”

Massage Improves Growth Quality by Decreasing Body Fat Deposition in Male Preterm Infants

“…Although advocated to improve weight gain [6,7], we did not find a massage benefit to weight gain in our study cohort of preterm infants. Recent investigations of massage and preterm infants are inconsistent with only 50% reporting greater weight gain.…”

“…Infant massage decreases post-massage cortisol levels as well as blood pressure. [7] Further we have shown improved autonomic nervous system maturation and parasympathetic activity in massage infants with a greater response noted in male compared with female preterm infants. [5] We now present evidence that twice-daily massage decreases subcutaneous fat deposition in male preterm infants.…”

Parent-Performed Infant Massage for Improving Parental Mental State Within 18 Months Postpartum: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding general mood, only one study observed this outcome and suggested that PPIM for several days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is beneficial to maternal mood during hospitalization after birth. It is worth mentioning that none of the studies reported side effects of PPIM, which is consistent with previous findings (Abdallah et al, 2013; Badr et al, 2015; Bennett et al, 2013; Field, 2014; Underdown et al, 2006; Vickers et al, 2004).…”

Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review

“…Full body massage had a positive effect on premature infants’ weight gain. The positive effect of infant massage on weight gain in premature infants has also been demonstrated in other studies [ 2 , 43 , 44 ]. Additional studies also report the beneficial effects of infant massage on weight gain in non-premature infants [ 1 , 2 , 10 , 43 , 45 ].…”

Massage Improves Growth Quality by Decreasing Body Fat Deposition in Male Preterm Infants

“…Although advocated to improve weight gain [6,7], we did not find a massage benefit to weight gain in our study cohort of preterm infants. Recent investigations of massage and preterm infants are inconsistent with only 50% reporting greater weight gain.…”

“…Infant massage decreases post-massage cortisol levels as well as blood pressure. [7] Further we have shown improved autonomic nervous system maturation and parasympathetic activity in massage infants with a greater response noted in male compared with female preterm infants. [5] We now present evidence that twice-daily massage decreases subcutaneous fat deposition in male preterm infants.…”