Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2024

Summer 2024 • 17

Infant Massage for Eczema According to nationaleczema.org, eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters and skin infections. Infants are particularly prone to eczema because their skin barrier is more fragile than adults. According to the Cleveland Clinic, eczema

improved sleep. “Massage therapy can enhance sleep quality in children by promoting relaxation, improving the production of melatonin and reducing the levels of stress hormones,” Allen says. “This effect facilitates deeper and more restful sleep, which is crucial for overall health and development.” One study 1 explored the effects of massage therapy and white noise application on the sleep quality and duration of premature infants. The study was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design with three groups of premature infants ranging in gestational age from 28 to 37 weeks. The study included 120 premature infants evenly divided among a massage therapy group, a white noise group and a control group. Researchers noted an increase in sleep duration and sleep efficiency for premature infants in the massage group, as well as a decrease in both the number of awakenings and wakefulness after sleep onset scores. Sleep duration also increased for infants in the white noise group, though only by roughly two hours compared to the more than five-hour increase for infants in the massage group. An early systematic review 2 evaluated non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in hospitalized children and adolescents of all ages. The analysis investigated 10 trials comprising a total of 528 participants ages three to 22, eight of which investigated behavioral interventions such as massage therapy, touch therapy and bedtime stories. Results from one of the studies included for analysis found 87 percent of participants felt they slept better following massage, with 92 percent of parents reporting they wanted their child to receive a massage again. Additionally, researchers noted that evidence from some single studies indicated that sleep efficiency may increase and the percentage of nighttime wakefulness may decrease more over a five‐day period following a massage than usual care. “Improved relaxation often leads to better sleep patterns,” Allen confirms. “This is especially important for infants and children, as quality sleep is crucial for healthy development.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, eczema affects an estimated 15 to 20 percent of infants under the age of two.

affects an estimated 15 to 20 percent of infants under the age of two. Skin irritants and allergens, an immune system reaction and genetics can all trigger infant eczema. A 2023 study 3 explored the influence of mother-performed infant massage (MPIM) on infantile eczema, quality of life, growth and maternal mental state. This randomized controlled trial included 66 full-term infants with eczema who were randomly divided into an eczema control group (EC) and an eczema with MPIM group (EM). Healthy full-term infants were also included in a control group.

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