Keywords
massage therapy, preterm, infant
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to address and review the literature regarding the effects of massage therapy on preterm infants. Each of the studies done focused on infants aged 0–12 months. The literature specifically looks at irritability states, stress, analgesia, weight-gain, sleep-wake cycles, cognition, and gastrointestinal function. In accordance with the studies reviewed in this article, I deduce that massage therapy can be used with preterm infants to reduce irritability and stress, increase weight-gain, support greater rest, facilitate short-term cognitive improvement, and create a greater improvement in gastrointestinal function. Massage therapy can also reduce pain in infants who have received painful procedures. I will review the limitations of my research, discuss the implications that have come from this review, and summarize my findings.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Sadie
(2019)
"Helping Babies: The Mental and Physical Effects of Massage Therapy on Preterm Infants,"
Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology: Vol. 14:
Iss.
2, Article 14.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/intuition/vol14/iss2/14