J Perinatol. 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02488-7. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To characterize current infant massage practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and identify variability in approaches among neonatal therapists.
STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to NICU-based occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists. The survey inquired about massage use, training, protocols, techniques, and safety concerns. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.
RESULTS: Among 101 respondents from 32 states, 90 (90%) used infant massage, with 64 (71%) considering it standard care. Infant massage was most often administered by occupational therapists (77, 76%), physical therapists (70, 69%), and parents (46, 46%). Despite high training rates (87, 97%), only 48 (53%) followed a specific protocol. Techniques, frequency, and use of emollients varied widely. Safety concerns included infant stress and physiological instability, though adverse events were rare.
CONCLUSION: Despite widespread use of infant massage in NICUs, variability in findings underscores the need for standardization to ensure safe, effective delivery of massage.
PMID:41198851 | DOI:10.1038/s41372-025-02488-7
