A review of preterm-infant massage studies shows numerous benefits, according to a press release from Elsevier published on www.pubmed.gov. Researchers from the Touch Research Institutes found:

• Massage therapy has led to weight gain in preterm infants when moderate pressure massage was provided.

• In studies on passive movement of the limbs, preterm infants also gained significantly more weight, and their bone density also increased.

• Research on ways of delivering the massage is also explored including using mothers versus therapists and the added effects of using oils. The use of mothers as therapists was effective in at least one study.

• The use of oils including coconut oil and safflower oil enhanced the average weight gain, and the transcutaneous absorption of oil also increased triglycerides.

• The use of synthetic oil increased vagal activity, which may indirectly contribute to weight gain. The weight gain was associated with shorter hospital stays and, thereby, significant hospital cost savings.

Despite these benefits, preterm infant massage is only practiced in 38 percent of neonatal intensive care units, the press release noted, adding that this may relate to the underlying mechanisms not being well understood.

“The increases noted in vagal activity, gastric motility, insulin and IGF-1 levels following moderate pressure massage are potential underlying mechanisms,” the researchers noted. “However, those variables combined do not explain all of the variance in weight gain, highlighting the need for additional mechanism studies.”

The review ran in the journal Infant Behavior and Development.

Related articles:
Acupressure and Meridian Massage Boost Weight in Premature Infants

Massage and Kinesthetic Stimulation Boost Weight in Preterm Infants