# The state of infant massage use in neonatal intensive care units

## TL;DR

This study examines how infant massage is used in NICUs and finds that while it is common, practices vary widely among therapists.

## Contribution

The study highlights the need for standardized protocols to ensure safe and effective infant massage in NICUs.

## Key findings

- 90% of respondents use infant massage, with 71% considering it standard care.
- Only 53% follow a specific protocol, and practices vary in techniques and frequency.
- Safety concerns include infant stress, but adverse events are rare.

## Abstract

To characterize current infant massage practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and identify variability in approaches among neonatal therapists.

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to NICU-based occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists. The survey inquired about massage use, training, protocols, techniques, and safety concerns. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Among 101 respondents from 32 states, 90 (90%) used infant massage, with 64 (71%) considering it standard care. Infant massage was most often administered by occupational therapists (77, 76%), physical therapists (70, 69%), and parents (46, 46%). Despite high training rates (87, 97%), only 48 (53%) followed a specific protocol. Techniques, frequency, and use of emollients varied widely. Safety concerns included infant stress and physiological instability, though adverse events were rare.

Despite widespread use of infant massage in NICUs, variability in findings underscores the need for standardization to ensure safe, effective delivery of massage.