A follow up study on the effects of massage on preterm infants: A randomized controlled research

Preterm infants who leave the intrauterine environment early are deprived of tactile stimuli. This affects the physical, emotional and social developments of infants and their physical growth parameters such as weight, height and head circumference negatively.

This research was conducted to determine the effects of massage on the development of preterm infants.

This research was conducted as randomized controlled research with two groups (massage-control). The infants in the intervention group received massage for 30 days. Height, weight and head circumference values of the infants were recorded on days 5, 10, 20 and 30. Amount of feeding was recorded before intervention, on day 15 after intervention and on day 30 after intervention. Discharge times of the infants were recorded according to groups.

A significant difference was found in height and weight of the preterm infants on days 20 and 30 when compared with the control group. Discharge time of the infants in the massage group was found to be 10 days shorter on average when compared with the control group. Significant difference was also found between day 15 and 30 in terms of amount of feeding.

Massage was found to have significant effects on physical growth parameters such as height, weight and head circumference. It was found that massage increased amount of feeding and weight intake in infants and decreased discharge time. In this case, hospital cost per infant may be reduced.