Effectiveness of sacral massage during labor in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Authors: Somayeh Makvandi, Zahra Hadizadeh-Talasaz, Seyedeh Fatemeh Nosrati Hadi Abad, Elham Manouchehri, Mona LarkiJournal: MidwiferyPublished: January 20, 2025DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104252

Q2 JournalSJR: 1.15h-index: 30SCImago

Strong EvidenceSystematic Review

Pregnancy Discomfort

In Plain Language: pregnancy, explained

Researchers reviewed multiple studies on sacral massage (massage of the lower back area near the sacrum) during labor to see if it helps reduce pain and improve birth outcomes in pregnant women. They combined the results from these studies to get a clearer picture of whether this massage technique actually works for laboring women.

Key Findings: what this systematic review found about pregnancy

✓Sacral massage during labor was examined across multiple studies to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving birth outcomes in pregnant women.
✓The researchers conducted a meta-analysis by combining results from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive assessment of whether sacral massage is an effective intervention during labor.

What This Means for You

If you're considering sacral massage during labor, current research suggests it may help with pain relief, though the evidence is still being gathered and results vary across studies.

What This Means for Practitioners

Sacral massage during labor appears to be a supported technique for labor pain management based on systematic review evidence, making it a reasonable offering for your birthing clients.

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Pregnancy: common questions

What does this study say about pregnancy?

If you're considering sacral massage during labor, current research suggests it may help with pain relief, though the evidence is still being gathered and results vary across studies.

What did this study find?

Sacral massage during labor was examined across multiple studies to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving birth outcomes in pregnant women. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis by combining results from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive assessment of whether sacral massage is an effective intervention during labor.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence strong. It was published in Midwifery, a Q2 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.