Preterm Infants' Weight Gain Following Massage Therapy

A number of studies have documented an average of 47% greater weight gain in preterm neonates following massage therapy. Our currently funded study suggests that massage therapy increases vagal activity, oxytocin, and IGF-1. In the proposed continuation of this study preemies would be provided daily massages three times a day for 10 days, as in our previously successful protocol. To determine potential mechanisms that may underlie the massage therapy/weight gain relationship we will continue to assess vagal activity and assay insulin, oxytocin, IGF-1 and cortisol as well as gastric motility. We have added an alternative potential pathway for the massage therapy/weight gain relationship. In this expanded model, activity level and the related measures of heart rate, oxygen consumption (based on a formula calculated from heart rate) and temperature mediate the effects of massage therapy on weight gain. A larger sample will be recruited so that we can have the power needed to test our model of the potential mechanisms underlying the weight gain from preterm infant massage. For the current application, 120 preterm infants with common medical complications of prematurity, who are medically stable and residing in the intermediate care ("grower") nursery, will be assigned to groups based on a random stratification on the following variables: gender, gestational age, birthweight, days in the NICU, and study entry weight. One hundred twenty infants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) ten days of massage therapy (n=60), or 2) standard treatment (n=60). Within-subjects and between-groups analyses will focus on physiological (heart rate, vagal tone, gastric motility, and temperature), biochemical (insulin, oxytocin, IGF-1 and cortisol) and behavioral variables (activity level).

Inclusion criteria

• Gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks
• Birthweight between 800 and 1,400 grams
• Birthweight, length, and head circumference appropriate for gestational age
• Scores on the Obstetric/Postnatal Complications scales are each below 80
• NICU stay between 15 and 60 days
• Current weight between 1,000 and 1,500 grams
• Current daily intake is between 120 and 160 calories

Exclusion criteria

• Genetic anomalies, congenital heart malformations, and/or central nervous system dysfunction
• HIV infection
• History of maternal alcohol or illicit drug use
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis B
• Require surgery