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Massage therapy for weight gain in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled

Li-Chin Lu1, Shao-Huan Lan2, Yen-Ping Hsieh3

  • 1Department of Information Management, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan; School of Management, Putian University, China.

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
|May 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Massage therapy significantly improves weight gain in preterm infants. This intervention is beneficial for promoting growth in premature babies, aiding their readiness for hospital discharge.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric gastroenterology
  • Evidence-based medicine

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience suboptimal weight gain, a critical factor for hospital discharge.
  • Massage therapy is explored as a non-pharmacological intervention to enhance infant growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of massage therapy on weight gain in preterm neonates.
  • To synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs were conducted.
  • Searches were performed across major databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL.
  • Studies included preterm infants with very-low-birth weight or low-birth-weight, assessing weight change outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Meta-analysis of 15 trials (697 participants) revealed that massage therapy increased daily weight gain by 5.07 g/day.
  • Moderate pressure massage showed greater benefits (5.60 g/day) compared to light pressure (1.08 g/day).
  • The observed improvements in weight gain were statistically significant.

Conclusions:

  • Massage therapy is a beneficial intervention for promoting weight gain in preterm infants.
  • The findings support the integration of massage therapy into neonatal care protocols for preterm infants.
  • Specific massage techniques, such as moderate pressure, may yield enhanced growth benefits.
Abstract

Keywords:
Low birth weightMassage therapyPreterm neonatesWeight gain

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