Infant massage and brain maturation measured using EEG: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Very preterm (VPT) infants develop adverse neurological sequelae from early exposure of the immature brain to the extrauterine environment.

AIMS: To determine the effects of infant massage on brain maturation in low-risk VPT infants.

STUDY

DESIGN

A randomised controlled trial of VPT infants, who received standard care or daily massage therapy, administered by the mother, from 34 weeks' to 40 weeks' corrected age (CA).

SUBJECTS: VPT infants (born at 28 weeks to 32 + 6 weeks' gestational age, G.A.) and a healthy at term cohort for comparison.

OUTCOME MEASURES: At term equivalent age (39 weeks' to 42 weeks' CA), EEG was recorded to calculate global relative power (GRP), using power spectral analysis.

RESULTS

Sixty infants were recruited, and EEGs of 25 massage and 20 standard care infants were analysable. There was no difference between groups in primary outcome (beta GRP). There was a significantly higher central alpha relative power measured in the intervention group infants, compared to standard care (SC) group (mean difference = 1.42, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.12 to 2.73; p = 0.03). A massage dose effect was shown by a positive correlation between, massage dose and beta, alpha and theta GRP (r = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.12 to 0.64, r = 0.45; 95%CI = 0.16 to 0.66, r = 0.39; 95%CI = 0.10 to 0.62 respectively) and a negative correlation between massage dose and delta GRP (r = -0.41, 95%CI = -0.64 to -0.12), suggesting that a higher dose of massage is associated with more favourable brain maturation.

CONCLUSIONS

Central alpha regional relative power was greater in massaged infants compared to SC group infants, suggesting relatively greater brain maturation in this area. A measurable massage dose effect in favour of greater brain maturation, shows promise for verification in a larger clinical trial.