Efficacy of Massage Applied by the Parents in Hospitalized Premature Birth (PreMas)

Assessment of the Efficacy of Massage and Kinesiotherapy Applied by the Parents on the Biological State, Neuromotor Activity and Other Associated Factors in Hospitalized Premature Birth (PreMas)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of massage therapy and kinesiotherapy, applied by the parents of hospitalized preterm infants, in the improvement of the biological state, neuromotor activity and other associated factors.

Premature infants are prematurely deprived of the cutaneous stimulation provided during intrauterine development and of the continuous contact with their parents. It has and adverse effect on both psychological and biological development of the child.

Knowledge of these factors has led many neonatal units to begin to introduce therapeutic massage protocols to facilitating satisfactory neuromotor and anthropometric development of preterm infants.

In this study, premature newborns were assigned to one of two groups:

A: Control Group. B: Massage and kinesiotherapy Group, 15 minutes twice a day.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age between 26 to 37 gestational weeks.
• Low birth weight, less than 2249 grams.
• Weight of at least 1250 grams at time of entry into study.
• Must be at least 48 hours of age.
• Must have hemodynamic stability.
• Absence of congenital and genetic anomalies.
• Absence of alterations of the central nervous system.
• Intact skin.
• Stable parameters (according to the neonatologist´s criteria) to participate in the intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Family refusal to participate in the study.
• High frequency mechanical ventilation.
• Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2)>70%.
• Inotropic support.
• Septic shock.
• Persistent tachycardia.
• Persistent bradycardia.
• Gastrointestinal disorders.