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Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 6, 2003, pp. 403-411
© 2003 Society of Pediatric Psychology

Stable Preterm Infants Gain More Weight and Sleep Less after Five Days of Massage Therapy

John N. I. Dieter, PHD1,2, Tiffany Field, PHD1, Maria Hernandez-Reif, PHD1, Eugene K. Emory, PHD2 and Mercedes Redzepi, PSYD1

1 Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, 2 Center for Prenatal Assessment and Human Development, Emory University

All correspondence should be sent to John Dieter, Center for Prenatal Assessment and Human Development, Emory University Briarcliff Campus, Atlanta, Georgia 30306. E-mail: jdieter{at}emory.edu

Objective To examine the effects of 5 days of massage therapy on the weight gain and sleep/wake behavior of hospitalized stable preterm infants. Methods Massage therapy (body stroking/passive limb movement for three 15-minute periods per day) was provided to 16 preterm neonates (mean gestational age, 30.1 weeks; mean birth weight, 1359 g), and their weight gain, formula intake, kilocalories, stooling, and sleep/wake behavior were compared with a group of 16 control infants (mean gestational age, 31.1 weeks; mean birth weight, 1421 g). Results The massage group averaged 53% greater daily weight gain than the control group. The massage group spent less time sleeping at the end of 5 treatment days than the control group and more time in the drowsy state. Conclusions Healthy, low-risk preterm infants gained more weight and slept less with just 5 days of massage, in contrast to 10 days in previous studies. Results support the continued use of massage as a cost-effective therapy for medically stable preterm infants.

Key words: preterm infants; massage therapy; weight gain; behavior.


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