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Effects of Massage Therapy on Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia in Newborns Who Receive Phototherapy
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of massage therapy on total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels and frequency of defecation, urination, and feeding in newborns who receive phototherapy for indirect hyperbilirubinemia.
Design:
A randomized controlled clinical trial.
Setting:
Ankara University Cebeci Research and Training Hospital and 29 May State Hospital in Ankara, Turkey.
Participants:
Fifty full-term newborns with indirect hyperbilirubinemia who underwent phototherapy.
Methods:
The newborns were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 25) or a control group (n = 25). Newborns in the intervention group received massage therapy throughout the duration of phototherapy for 15 minutes twice per day; newborns in the control group received routine care during phototherapy. Every 24 hours, TSB levels were measured, and the frequencies of defecation, urination, and feeding were also calculated for each newborn.
Results:
We found no differences in the characteristics of the newborns or in TSB levels between groups at enrollment. After treatment, TSB levels were lower in the intervention group (p < .001). Frequencies of defecation, urination, and feeding were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group.
Conclusion:
Massage therapy had significant effects on TSB levels, feeding, breastfeeding, defecation, and urination in newborns who received phototherapy for indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Massage therapy can be added as routine care for full-term newborns with hyperbilirubinemia under phototherapy and may be an effective supplementary intervention.
