Clinical efficacy of magnetotherapy combined with pediatric massage on infantile colic

Am J Transl Res. 2022 Oct 15;14(10):7233-7238. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the short-term and long-term efficacy of magnetotherapy and pediatric massage in the treatment of infantile colic.

Methods: A total of 120 neonates with sudden onset crying, bloating, and breast refusal who met the diagnostic criteria for colic were retrospectively enrolled from September 2019 to September 2021. They were divided into a combination group, a magnetotherapy group, a pediatric massage group, and a control group based on different treatment methods (n=30 in each group). All cases were provided with conventional nursing.

Results: The short-term efficacy of the combination group was significantly better than that of the control group. The difference was not statistically significant among combination, magnetotherapy, and pediatric massage groups (P>0.05). In the long-term efficacy assessment, the total effective rate was 96.67% in the combination group, 93.33% in the magnetotherapy group, 86.67% in the pediatric massage group, and 93.33% in the control group. There was no significant difference among the groups (P>0.05). Neonates in the combination group had the shortest crying relief time and the longest sleep duration after relief. This was followed by the magnetotherapy and the pediatric massage groups (P<0.05). Neonates in the control group had longer crying relief time and shorter sleep duration after relief than those in the combination group (P<0.05). From day 2 to day 7 of intervention, the pain level of the combination group was decreased significantly. This was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Magnetotherapy combined with pediatric massage can improve neonatal colic, relieve crying and pain symptoms, and improve sleep quality.

Keywords: Magnetotherapy; clinical efficacy; infantile colic; neonates; pain; pediatric massage.