| Study of infants evaluated after massage and and
at 8 month follow-up: Another study by Scafidi et. al.
published in 1989, with similar variables to the previous study,
continued to show differences
between massaged preterm infants and a control group.
Massaged group:
- showed 21% greater weight gain per day
- was discharged five days earlier
- demonstrated no significant difference in sleep/wake
states and activity level
- showed more mature habituation on the Brazelton scale
Eight months following the study, the two groups were seen for
follow-up. There continued to be differences between the massaged infants
and the control group:
Follow- up:
- Massaged infants still had a weight advantage
over the control group.
- Massaged infants had better performance in mental
and motor areas on Infant Developmental Scales.
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