Massage therapy by mothers and trained professionals enhances weight gain in preterm infants
Sari Goldstein Ferber1, Jacob Kuint, Aron Weller
1Department of Neonatology, Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Giborim, Holon, Israel.ferbers@post.tau.ac.il
Background:
The method of "massage therapy" has consistently shown increased weight gain in preterm infants. The weight gain was apparent during massages administered by professionals.
Aims:
To replicate the results of increased weight gain in the course of "massage therapy" in preterm infants, and utilize a new, cost-effective application of this method by comparing maternal to nonmaternal administration of the therapy.
Study Design:
Random cluster design.
Subjects:
The study comprised 57 healthy, preterm infants assigned to three groups: two treatment groups--one in which the mothers performed the massage, and the other in which a professional female figure unrelated to the infant administered the treatment. Both these groups were compared to a control group.
Results:
Over the 10-day study period, the two treatment groups gained significantly more weight compared to the control group (291.3 and 311.3 vs. 225.5 g, respectively). Calorie intake/kg did not differ between groups.
Conclusions:
Mothers are able to achieve the same effect size as that of trained professionals, allowing cost-effective application of the treatment within the neonatal intensive care unit.
