PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants

doi:10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2016 Aug 27;16(1):146.

doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7.

PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants

Melissa M Lai^{1

2

3}, Giulia D'Acunto⁴, Andrea Guzzetta⁴, Roslyn N Boyd⁵, Stephen E Rose⁶, Jurgen Fripp⁶, Simon Finnigan^{1

2}, Naoni Ngenda³, Penny Love^{1

2}, Koa Whittingham⁵, Kerstin Pannek⁶, Robert S Ware^{7

8}, Paul B Colditz^{9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
² University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Level 4, Bldg 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
³ Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁴ Stella Maris Institute, The University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
⁵ Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁶ CSIRO, Australian e-Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁷ UQ Child Health Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁸ School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁹ Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.
¹⁰ University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Level 4, Bldg 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.
¹¹ Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 27568006
PMCID: PMC5002318
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7

Randomized Controlled Trial

PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants

Melissa M Lai et al. BMC Pediatr. 2016.

. 2016 Aug 27;16(1):146.

doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
² University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Level 4, Bldg 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
³ Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁴ Stella Maris Institute, The University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
⁵ Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁶ CSIRO, Australian e-Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁷ UQ Child Health Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁸ School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
⁹ Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.
¹⁰ University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Level 4, Bldg 71/918, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.
¹¹ Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia. p.colditz@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 27568006
PMCID: PMC5002318
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7

Abstract

Background: Preterm infants follow an altered neurodevelopmental trajectory compared to their term born peers as a result of the influence of early birth, and the altered environment. Infant massage in the preterm infant has shown positive effects on weight gain and reduced length of hospital stay. There is however, limited current evidence of improved neurodevelopment or improved attachment, maternal mood or anxiety. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of infant massage performed by the mother in very preterm (VPT) infants. Effects on the infant will be assessed at the electrophysiological, neuroradiological and clinical levels. Effects on maternal mood, anxiety and mother-infant attachment will also be measured.

Methods/design: A randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of massage therapy in VPT infants. Sixty VPT infants, born at 28 to 32 weeks and 6 days gestational age, who are stable, off supplemental oxygen therapy and have normal cranial ultrasounds will be recruited and randomised to an intervention (infant massage) group or a control (standard care) group. Ten healthy term born infants will be recruited as a reference comparison group. The intervention group will receive standardised massage therapy administered by the mother from recruitment, until term equivalent age (TEA). The control group will receive care as usual (CAU). Infants and their mothers will be assessed at baseline, TEA, 12 months and 24 months corrected age (CA), with a battery of clinical, neuroimaging and electrophysiological measures, as well as structured questionnaires, psychoanalytic observations and neurodevelopmental assessments.

Discussion: Optimising preterm infant neurodevelopment is a key aim of neonatal research, which could substantially improve long-term outcomes and reduce the socio-economic impact of VPT birth. This study has the potential to give insights into the mother-baby relationship and any positive effects of infant massage on neurodevelopment. An early intervention such as massage that is relatively easy to administer and could alter the trajectory of preterm infant brain development, holds potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000335897 . Date registered: 22/3/2012.

Keywords: Attachment; Infant massage; Neurodevelopment; Preterm.

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Figures

**Fig. 1**
"Resting hands" prone position in massage protocol

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References

1. Allen MC, Cristofalo EA, Kim C. Outcomes of preterm infants: morbidity replaces mortality. Clin Perinatol. 2011;38(3):441–54. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2011.06.011. - DOI - PubMed
1. Bonifacio SL, Glass HC, Peloquin S, Ferriero DM. A new neurological focus in neonatal intensive care. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(9):485–94. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2011.119. - DOI - PubMed
1. Saigal S, Doyle LW. An overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood. Lancet. 2008;371(9608):261–9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60136-1. - DOI - PubMed
1. Latal B. Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome after preterm birth. Pediatr Neurol. 2009;40(6):413–9. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2009.01.008. - DOI - PubMed
1. Vohr B. Long-term outcomes of moderately preterm, late preterm, and early term infants. Clin Perinatol. 2013;40(4):739–51. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2013.07.006. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Allen MC, Cristofalo EA, Kim C. Outcomes of preterm infants: morbidity replaces mortality. Clin Perinatol. 2011;38(3):441–54. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2011.06.011. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Allen MC, Cristofalo EA, Kim C. Outcomes of preterm infants: morbidity replaces mortality. Clin Perinatol. 2011;38(3):441–54. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2011.06.011. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Bonifacio SL, Glass HC, Peloquin S, Ferriero DM. A new neurological focus in neonatal intensive care. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(9):485–94. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2011.119. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Bonifacio SL, Glass HC, Peloquin S, Ferriero DM. A new neurological focus in neonatal intensive care. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(9):485–94. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2011.119. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Saigal S, Doyle LW. An overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood. Lancet. 2008;371(9608):261–9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60136-1. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Saigal S, Doyle LW. An overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood. Lancet. 2008;371(9608):261–9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60136-1. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Latal B. Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome after preterm birth. Pediatr Neurol. 2009;40(6):413–9. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2009.01.008. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Latal B. Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome after preterm birth. Pediatr Neurol. 2009;40(6):413–9. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2009.01.008. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Vohr B. Long-term outcomes of moderately preterm, late preterm, and early term infants. Clin Perinatol. 2013;40(4):739–51. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2013.07.006. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Vohr B. Long-term outcomes of moderately preterm, late preterm, and early term infants. Clin Perinatol. 2013;40(4):739–51. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2013.07.006. - DOI - PubMed

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PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants

Affiliations

PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Figures

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Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

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Medical