Report: Massage
and mother baby interaction with depressed mothers,
carried out by Fetal and Neonatal Stress Research Group.
Results: Mothers with postnatal
depression are known to have a worse relationship with their
babies. The aim of this study was to find whether a programme
of attending mother baby massage classes would be beneficial.
A group who attended five massage classes was compared with
a similar group who attended a support group. At the end
of the test period the massage group had significantly less
depression and very significantly better interaction with
their babies, than the control group. This is the first
time that a method has been found for improving the relationship
between a depressed mother and her baby.
For more information go to
www.imperial.ac.uk
The Touch Research Institute (TRI) was established in 1992
by director Tiffany Field, PhD, at the University of Miami
School of Medicine. It was the first centre devoted solely
to the study of touch and its application in science and
medicine. In 2005 there were three TRIs, dedicated to studying
the effects of touch therapy. They have researched the effects
of massage therapy at all stages of life, from newborns
to senior citizens. In these studies the TRIs have shown
that touch therapy has many positive effects. For example,
among other things, massage therapy:
- Reduces stress hormones, and
- Alleviates depressive symptoms.
Following are some specific research reports from TRI relating
to massage for infants.
PRETERM INFANTS
Report: Massage
of preterm newborns to improve growth and development. Field,
T., Scafidi, F., and Schanberg, S. (1987), Pediatric Nursing.
Results: The data reviewed
suggests that the growth and development of preterm neonates
[newborn infants] can be facilitated by tactile-kinesthetic
stimulation. Greater weight gain and superior performance
on developmental assessments persisted across the first
six months for the group of infants that received the massage
treatment. Field has suggested that these enduring effects
may be mediated by better parent-infant interactions. Heightened
responsiveness of the neonate may enhance the early parent-infant
relationships which may, in turn, contribute to optimal
growth and development at later stages in infancy.
PRESCHOOL MASSAGE
Report: Preschool
children's sleep and wake behaviour: Effects of massage
therapy. Field, T., Kilmer T., Hernandez-Reif, M. and Burman,
I. (1996), Early Child Development and Care.
Study: Preschool children
received 20-minute massages twice a week for five weeks.
Results: The massaged children
as compared to children in the wait-list control group had
better behaviour ratings on state, vocalisation, activity
and cooperation after the massage sessions on the first
and last days of the study. Their behaviour was also rated
more optimally by their teachers by the end of the study.
Also, at the end of the five week period parents of the
massaged children rated their children as having less touch
aversion and being more extroverted.
For more information on TRI
go to www.miami.edu/touch-research
New research by a team at the University of Warwick says
that massage may help infants aged under six months sleep
better, cry less and be less stressed.
The team of researchers from Warwick Medical School and
the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick
was led by Angela Underdown. They looked at nine studies
of massage of young children covering a total of 598 infants
aged under six months. They found the various studies showed
a range of significant results including indications that
infants who were massaged cried less, slept better, and
had lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol compared
to infants who did not receive massage. One of the studies
examined also claimed that massage could affect the release
of the hormone melatonin.
One study also provided evidence that massage could help
build better relationships between infants and mothers who
had postnatal depression, although the reviewers said more
research is needed to confirm this effect. One other study
indicated that massage, eye contact and talking had a significant
effect on growth and a significant reduction in illnesses
and clinic visits for infants receiving little tactile stimulation
in an orphanage but this was an unusual set of circumstances
and the other studies, where infants were receiving normal
levels of tactile stimulation, found no effect on growth.
The studies mainly involved infant massage by parents who
were trained by health professionals in appropriate techniques...The
review is called Massage Intervention for promoting mental
and physical health in infants under six months (Review).
For more information visit www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005038/pdf_fs.html
(University of Warwick, 08.11.06)
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