Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review.
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language
This study reviewed the effects of infant massage on various health outcomes in infants under one year old. The findings suggested that infant massage could relieve pain, reduce jaundice, and promote weight gain, highlighting its potential benefits for infant health. This research is important as it supports the inclusion of infant massage in healthcare practices for improving infant health outcomes.
Key Findings: what this systematic review found
- ✓In 5 of 7 studies, infant massage reduced pain in 422 out of 717 infants.
- ✓All 6 studies found that infant massage helped reduce bilirubin levels in 455 infants with jaundice.
- ✓In 4 studies, infant massage resulted in increased weight gain among 244 infants.
What This Means for You
For parents considering reflexology for their infants, this study indicates that massage can help alleviate pain and improve conditions like jaundice, supporting healthy weight gain.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology practitioners can incorporate the findings on infant massage to enhance their practice by promoting massage techniques that may alleviate pain and improve overall infant health outcomes.
Study Design: how this systematic review was run
Limitations: what it cannot tell you
While the review presents positive findings, many outcomes were statistically significant only in some studies, indicating variability. Furthermore, the studies reviewed had a range of methodologies and quality.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
For parents considering reflexology for their infants, this study indicates that massage can help alleviate pain and improve conditions like jaundice, supporting healthy weight gain.
What did this study find?
In 5 of 7 studies, infant massage reduced pain in 422 out of 717 infants. All 6 studies found that infant massage helped reduce bilirubin levels in 455 infants with jaundice. In 4 studies, infant massage resulted in increased weight gain among 244 infants.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 1,416 participants. It was published in International journal of environmental research and public health, a Q1 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
What are the limitations of this study?
While the review presents positive findings, many outcomes were statistically significant only in some studies, indicating variability. Furthermore, the studies reviewed had a range of methodologies and quality.
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