Preterm infant massage elicits consistent increases in vagal activity and gastric motility that are associated with greater weight gain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether preterm infant massage leads to consistent increases in vagal activity and gastric motility and whether these increases are associated with greater weight gain.


METHODS
EKG and EGG were recorded in 80 preterm infants randomly assigned to a moderate pressure massage therapy group or to a standard care control group to assess vagal activity and gastric motility responses to massage therapy.


RESULTS
Massaged infants exhibited consistent short-term increases in vagal activity and gastric motility on both the first and the last days of the 5-day study that were associated with weight gain during the 5-day treatment period. No changes in basal vagal activity or gastric motility were noted across the 5-day treatment period.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm infant massage is consistently associated with increases in vagal activity and gastric motility that may underlie the effects of massage therapy on preterm infant weight gain.
Diego
Miguel A
MA
Touch Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA. mdiego@med.miami.edu
Field
Tiffany
T
Hernandez-Reif
Maria
M
Deeds
Osvelia
O
Ascencio
Angela
A
Begert
Gisela
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*