Effects of early postpartum massage on physical discomfort, mood, and emotional well-being: A randomized controlled trial

TL;DR

A study found that massage therapy in the early postpartum period can reduce physical discomfort and improve mood and emotional well-being in new mothers.

Contribution

This is the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating the effectiveness of early postpartum massage on both physical and emotional outcomes.

Findings

Massage therapy significantly reduced four physical symptoms compared to bed rest.

Massage improved five negative mood/emotion subscales and two positive mood/emotion subscales.

Regression analysis confirmed massage as a key factor in improving postpartum discomfort and emotional well-being.

Abstract

Postpartum women commonly experience interrelated unpleasant physical symptoms and negative emotions, necessitating a comprehensive approach that addresses both physiological and psychological well-being. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of massage therapy in alleviating unpleasant symptoms and improving mood and emotional states in the early postpartum period.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2024 at a single-center facility involving 112 women aged ≥18 years who had undergone vaginal delivery, could read and write Japanese, and had no musculoskeletal or psychiatric disorders. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which received massage therapy on the second postpartum day, or a control group undergoing bed rest. Both groups completed pre- and post-intervention assessments on physical symptoms and mood/emotions, while demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records.

A comparative analysis of using t-tests pre- and post-intervention changes between the two groups revealed statistically significant differences in four physical symptoms, five negative mood/emotion subscales, and two positive mood/emotion subscales (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis was adopted, adjusting for six key variables: intervention status, primiparity, duration of labor, blood loss during delivery, weeks postpartum, and mother–infant separation. The results identified massage therapy as the factor for improving early postpartum discomfort and emotional well-being (p<0.05).

This study demonstrated that massage therapy in the early postpartum period is effective in alleviating unpleasant symptoms. Additionally, massage was found to reduce negative mood states, while simultaneously enhancing positive emotions.

The study is registered on the official website of UMIN Clinical Trials Registry.

UMIN000052795

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