TY - JOUR
T1 - Massage therapy by parents improves early growth and development
AU - Field, Tiffany
AU - Hernandez-Reif, Maria
AU - Diego, Miguel
AU - Feijo, Larissa
AU - Vera, Yanexy
AU - Gil, Karla
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank the parents and infants who participated in this study. This research was supported by a grant from NIMH and a Senior Scientist Award (MH#00331) to Tiffany Field and funding from Johnson and Johnson.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - This study assessed the effects of moderate and light pressure massage on the growth and development of young infants. A recent study by Diego, Field, Sanders, and Hernandez-Reif (2004) showed that persons who were given moderate pressure massage, as compared with persons who received light massage or vibratory stimulation, experienced a decrease in heart rate, EEG changes associated with a relaxation response and positive affect, and the greatest decrease in stress. In the present study, mothers were instructed to massage their newborn infants once per day using either light or moderate pressure. The infants' growth (i.e., weight, length, head circumference), sleep behavior, and performance on the Brazelton scale were assessed soon after birth and at one month of age. As compared to infants who received a light pressure massage, infants in the moderate pressure group gained more weight, were greater length, performed better on the orientation scale of the Brazelton, had lower Brazelton excitability and depression scores, and exhibited less agitated behavior during sleep.
AB - This study assessed the effects of moderate and light pressure massage on the growth and development of young infants. A recent study by Diego, Field, Sanders, and Hernandez-Reif (2004) showed that persons who were given moderate pressure massage, as compared with persons who received light massage or vibratory stimulation, experienced a decrease in heart rate, EEG changes associated with a relaxation response and positive affect, and the greatest decrease in stress. In the present study, mothers were instructed to massage their newborn infants once per day using either light or moderate pressure. The infants' growth (i.e., weight, length, head circumference), sleep behavior, and performance on the Brazelton scale were assessed soon after birth and at one month of age. As compared to infants who received a light pressure massage, infants in the moderate pressure group gained more weight, were greater length, performed better on the orientation scale of the Brazelton, had lower Brazelton excitability and depression scores, and exhibited less agitated behavior during sleep.
KW - Infants
KW - Massage therapy
KW - Parents
KW - Touch research institutes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=8644283719&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=8644283719&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.infbeh.2004.03.004
DO - 10.1016/j.infbeh.2004.03.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:8644283719
VL - 27
SP - 435
EP - 442
JO - Infant Behavior and Development
JF - Infant Behavior and Development
SN - 0163-6383
IS - 4
ER -