title: The effects of massage therapy on physical growth and gastrointestinal function in premature infants: A pilot study.
abstract: To promote the growth and development of premature infants, effective and tender care is required in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The purpose of this study was to test the potential effects of massage therapy on increasing physical growth and promoting gastrointestinal function in premature infants. Twenty subjects were divided into two groups in the NICU of one general hospital located in South Korea. The experimental group (n = 10) were given massage therapy and the control group (n = 10) received routine care. Massage therapy was performed twice daily for 14 days, for 15 minutes per session. In the physical growth, height and chest circumference were significantly increased in the experimental group. In assessing gastrointestinal function, frequency of pre-feed gastric residual was significantly decreased and numbers of bowel movements were significantly increased in the experimental group. This study showed massage therapy has the potential effects on increasing physical growth and gastrointestinal function in premature infants. The massage in the NICU might be utilized as a part of developmental care, but more research needs to be done. NICU nurses need to be trained in massage therapy techniques to provide more effective clinical care for premature infants.
authors: Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: HyeJeong
authors: H
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Nursing, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea ksj@hallym.ac.kr.
authors: Shin-Jeong
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Nursing, Institute of Health Science, Inje University, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Jina
authors: J
authors: Oh
authors: College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, South Korea.
authors: Myung-Nam
authors: MN
authors: Lee
authors: Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: SungHee
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Nursing, Sahmyook University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Kyung-Ah
authors: KA
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Gastrointestinal; growth; massage; premature infants