In 2014, Yates, et. al., conducted study about Premature birth, which is a common occurrence worldwide, can present a range of challenges for both infants and their parents. One aspect of concern is the potential sleep difficulties faced by preterm infants. In a study conducted by Charlotte C. Yates and a team of researchers, the use of massage therapy as an adjunct intervention to promote sleep in preterm infants was investigated.

The research focused on 30 infants born at a minimum of 28 weeks gestational age, who were between 32 and 48 weeks adjusted gestational age at the time of the study. These infants were randomly assigned to receive massage therapy on one day and not to receive massage on an alternate day. The Motionlogger Micro Sleep Watch Actigraph was used to record lower extremity activity on the morning of each day to assess the effects of massage on sleep patterns.

The study did not find a statistically significant difference between the two groups when it came to sleep efficiency (P = 0.13) during the period under evaluation. However, an interesting observation was made during the time period after the massage sessions ended. On days without massage, more infants were found to be sleeping (χ = 4.9802, P = 0.026), suggesting that infants appeared to fall asleep more easily without massage intervention.

The study concluded that massage therapy is generally well-tolerated by infants born preterm. However, it did not provide evidence that massage therapy accelerates the onset of sleep in these infants. The results imply that while massage therapy may not lead to immediate improvements in sleep efficiency, it does not have any adverse effects and can be considered as a safe and potentially beneficial practice for preterm infants.

In summary, this research by Yates and her team sheds light on the use of massage therapy as a non-invasive approach to support the well-being of preterm infants. While it may not directly induce sleep in these infants, it can still be a valuable part of care, offering a soothing and safe intervention that promotes their overall comfort and development. Further studies may be needed to explore other potential benefits of massage therapy for preterm infants.

Reference: Yates, C. C., Mitchell, A. J., Booth, M. Y., Williams, D. K., Lowe, L. M., & Hall, R. W. (2014). The effects of massage therapy to induce sleep in infants born preterm. Pediatric physical therapy: the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association, 26(4), 405.