Table 1.
Prenatal and postnatal development conditions that are improved by massage therapy: reference numbers, trial types, comparison groups and primary results.
| Conditions | Reference | Trial type | Comparison group | Primary results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prenatal Development | ||||
| In vitro fertilization | 2 | RCT | control | > pregnancy rates |
| Prenatal depression | 3 | RCT | yoga | <depression & prematurity |
| Infants | ||||
| Preterm infants | 4 | RCT | usual care | > weight and height |
| 5 | RCT | non-oil | >weight | |
| 6 | RCT | usual care | >vagal activity | |
| 7 | RCT | usual care | ># natural killer cells | |
| 8 | META | 5-6 days < intensive care | ||
| 9 | RCT | usual care | >cognitive scores (12mos) | |
| 11 | RCT | exercise | >vagal activity | |
| 12 | RCT | coconut oil | >oxygen saturation | |
| 13 | RCT | control | NICU nurses < stressed | |
| Full-term infants | 14 | RCT | usual care | >attachment |
| 15 | RCT | no lotion | >sleep patterns | |
| 16 | RCT | usual care | <bilirubin levels | |
| 17 | RCT | usual care | <need for phototherapy | |
| 18 | RCT | usual care | <cortisol levels | |
| 19 | RCT | usual care | >feeding interactions | |
| Children | ||||
| Autism spectrum disorder | 21 | REVIEW | >sleep patterns | |
| 22 | Single arm | >oxytocin levels |