Effect of Massage on Body Mass Index and Head Circumference in Healthy Neonates

Aims: Several methods have been proposed to improve growth in neonates, including touch and massage therapy. However, there are conflicting results about the effect of massage. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of massage therapy on body mass and head circumference indices of healthy infants and by gender. Materials & Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, ۶۰ healthy infants were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly stratified with blocks of ۴ in two groups of ۳۰, including experimental and control groups (۱۷ boys and ۱۳ girls in each group). Experimental group neonates were given tactile-motor stimulation by their mothers at home for ۱۵ minutes and twice a day, before feeding, for ۴ consecutive weeks. Infants' growth indices were recorded at birth, at the end of the ۱۴th and ۲۸th day. Data were analyzed by SPSS ۱۶ software using independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and chi-square. Findings: In all the neonates, the body mass index increased from ۱۲.۳۷±۰.۸۱kg/m۲ to ۱۴.۶۱±۰.۹۸kg/m۲ in the intervention group and from ۱۳.۱۹±۱.۱۶kg/m۲ to ۱۵.۲۲±۱.۰۳kg/m۲ in the control group. The head circumference in the intervention group improved from ۳۴.۶۶±۱.۱۹cm at birth to ۳۷.۳۰±۹۷۰cm at ۲۸ day, and in the control group it increased from ۳۴.۵۰±۱.۵۷cm at birth to ۳۶.۸۱±۱.۴۱cm at ۲۸ days. However, the differences in none of these indicators were significant (p>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Massage with the method of tactile movements in general and based on gender did not improve the body mass index and head circumference of healthy babies.

Keywords:

Massage , Body Mass Index , Neonate , neonate