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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
Procedural pain heart rate responses in massaged preterm infants
Miguel A Diego1, Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif
1Touch Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA. mdiego@med.miami.edu
Abstract:
Heart rate (HR) responses to the removal of a monitoring lead were assessed in 56 preterm infants who received moderate pressure, light pressure or no massage therapy. The infants who received moderate pressure massage therapy exhibited lower increases in HR suggesting an attenuated pain response. The heart rate of infants who received moderate pressure massage also returned to baseline faster than the heart rate of the other two groups, suggesting a faster recovery rate.
