Massage therapy (MT) improves growth parameters in preterm infants. The growth of lean mass rather than fat mass has been associated with better long-term outcomes. We aimed to study the effect of tactile/kinesthetic MT on growth and body composition parameters in preterm infants. Preterm (< 32 weeks gestation) infants were randomly assigned at corrected gestational age of 35 weeks to receive 3 consecutive, 15-min, sessions of MT over 5 days or routine care. Primary outcome was mean daily weight gain. Secondary outcomes included anthropometric measurements and body composition parameters assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Out of 218 infants screened, 86 were eligible and 60 infants (30 in each group) were recruited after parental consent. MT was associated with significant increase in daily weight gain [19.3 (10-34.3) versus 6.2 (2.5-18.4) g/day, p = 0.01] and growth velocity [12.5 (6-21) versus 3.6 (1.6-12.6) g/kg/d, p = 0.01] compared with routine care. Infants on MT showed significant increase in total body mass, fat mass (total/legs), lean mass (total/arms/legs/trunk), and bone mineral density (arms/legs/trunk) values compared with routine care group. In conclusions, MT improves growth quality as evident by increased total and regional lean masses, increased bone mineral density, and peripheral rather than central fat distribution. What is known on this subject? • Massage therapy (MT) for preterm infants leads to achievement of faster independent oral feeding, increased weight gain, less stress, less response to pain, less occurrence of sepsis, and shorter hospital stay. • Growth of lean mass rather than fat mass has been associated with better long-term outcomes. What this study adds? • Tactile/kinesthetic massage therapy in preterm infant is associated with improved growth parameters and anthropometric measures. • Tactile/kinesthetic massage therapy increased total body mass, fat mass (total/legs), lean mass (total/arms/legs/trunk), and bone mineral density (arms/legs/trunk) values.
Keywords: DXA scan; Growth; Massage therapy; Preterm infant.