Neonatal Massage for Infant Development

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Victoria Brooks

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Active psychosis, mania, suicidal, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether giving babies a gentle massage soon after birth can aid in developing brain connections. Babies will be divided into two groups: one will receive daily massages, and the other will not. Researchers aim to determine if the massages impact brain development. Babies born after 36 weeks, whose parents speak English and can provide consent, may qualify for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding early brain development in newborns.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that neonatal massage is safe for infants?

Research has shown that infant massage is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies indicate it can aid in babies' growth and development, offering benefits such as improved weight and coordination. Notably, using oil for massages does not appear to cause skin problems in infants. Additionally, infant massage might help with health issues like jaundice, a condition characterized by high bilirubin levels, by improving these levels. In a hospital setting, massage can reduce stress, enhance bonding, and improve weight gain and feeding. Overall, these findings suggest that infant massage is a safe option for babies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Neonatal massage is unique because it offers a non-invasive approach to support infant development, unlike traditional methods that might rely on medication or more clinical interventions. Researchers are excited about this technique because it could enhance physical growth and neurological development simply through gentle touch, potentially improving outcomes for newborns without the need for pharmaceuticals. This approach is particularly appealing as it emphasizes a natural method that can easily be integrated into caregiving routines, providing a soothing experience for both infants and parents.

What evidence suggests that neonatal massage is effective for infant development?

This trial will compare the effects of neonatal massage with no massage on infant development. Studies have shown that gentle massages for newborns can be very beneficial. They help babies gain weight faster and enable premature babies to start eating independently sooner. Research also indicates that massages contribute to babies growing taller and heavier. Additionally, massaging can strengthen the bond between mother and baby, which is crucial for emotional growth. Some studies even suggest that it can enhance skills like hand-eye coordination, important for a baby's overall development. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for newborn babies whose caregivers speak English and can give informed consent. It aims to understand brain development and the effects of neonatal massage.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to give informed consent

English speaking

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Half of the recruited babies receive daily massage while the other half do not

up to 3 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in brain connectivity using fMRI

up to 3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Neonatal Massage

Trial Overview The study is testing whether daily massages for newborns affect their brain connectivity. Babies are randomly divided into two groups: one receives massages, while the other does not.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Neonatal Massage Received Active Control 1 Intervention

Group II: No Massage Received Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

University of Minnesota

Collaborator

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11986174/

The Effects of Infant Massage Therapy on Preterm Neonatal ... Conclusion: Infant massage therapy significantly enhances weight gain and reduces the time to achieve full feeding in VLBW preterm infants. Moderate-pressure ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163638323000899

Effectiveness of infant massage on babies growth, mother ... Infant massage supports body weight gain and height growth. Infant massage is effective in increasing mother-infant attachment.

3. hsc.unm.edu hsc.unm.edu/cdd/training-programs/nmlend/media/documents/capstone/lhawkey-capstone.pdf

Benefits of Infant Massage for Babies Born Prematurely or ... Postnatal depression and mother and infant outcomes after infant massage. ... Effectiveness of Infant Massage on. Strengthening Bonding and Improving Sleep ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1198730/full

Effects of massage therapy on preterm infants and their ... Massage therapy can strengthen mother-infant attachment [SMD = 2.83, 95% CI (2.31 to 3.35), P < 0.00001]. Other outcomes, including motor ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11330255/

Potential of Massage Therapy for Improved Growth and ... It shows that therapy massage can effectively increase infants' growth and development, including body weight, length, visual-motor coordination and ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0882596316300343

A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Using Oil ... Oil massage can effectively promote infant physical growth and would not increase the risk of skin side effects, and could be considered as a safe neonatal ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9179989/

Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review - PMC Infant massage can counteract jaundice in newborns. Children with jaundice showed improved bilirubin levels as a result of infant massage ...

8. reasonstobecheerful.world reasonstobecheerful.world/traditional-health-infant-massage/

The Science Behind Centuries-Old Infant Massage ... A review of 11 studies on massage therapy's potential for growth and development among infants under nine months found that it can impact ...

9. nwhjournal.org nwhjournal.org/article/S1751-4851(19)30070-4/fulltext

Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the ... Infant massage in NICU may reduce stress, promote bonding, improve weight gain, feeding, neurodevelopment, and reduce pain for infants. Parents ...