NCT00029198

Brief Summary

The specific aims of this study are: 1) to replicate the data that following ten days of massage therapy, preterm infants show greater daily weight gain and are discharged from the hospital earlier than the controls, thus demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of the intervention; 2) to test a model on two potential underlying mechanisms for weight gain including a) enhanced vagal activity leading to greater gastric motility, higher levels of insulin, IGF-1, and oxytocin and lower cortisol levels in the massage versus the control infants at the end of the study; and/or b) increased physical activity and its associated increase in heart rate oxygen consumption and temperature leading to greater weight gain. These pathways (vagal activity and physical activity) will be tested by path analyses. Determining underlying mechanisms for the massage therapy/weight gain relationship is a critical process required by the neonatology community for massage therapy to be adopted as a standard neonatal intensive care unit.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
139

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_3

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2003

Longer than P75 for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 9, 2002

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 10, 2002

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 1, 2003

Completed
4.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2008

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2008

Completed
Last Updated

April 10, 2014

Status Verified

April 1, 2014

Enrollment Period

4.9 years

First QC Date

January 9, 2002

Last Update Submit

April 9, 2014

Conditions

Keywords

Massage TherapyPreterm InfantsWeight GainVagal ToneIGF-1OxytocinBrazelton

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • weight gain

    post-massage

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

15 minute massage tid

Procedure: massage

2

SHAM COMPARATOR

non-massage touch

Procedure: Sham massage

Interventions

massagePROCEDURE

15 massage given tid

1
Sham massagePROCEDURE

non-massage touch

2

Eligibility Criteria

Age28 Weeks - 32 Weeks
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks
  • Birthweight between 800 and 1,400 grams
  • Birthweight, length, and head circumference appropriate for gestational age
  • Scores on the Obstetric/Postnatal Complications scales are each below 80
  • NICU stay between 15 and 60 days
  • Current weight between 1,000 and 1,500 grams
  • Current daily intake is between 120 and 160 calories

You may not qualify if:

  • Genetic anomalies, congenital heart malformations, and/or central nervous system dysfunction
  • HIV infection
  • History of maternal alcohol or illicit drug use
  • Syphilis
  • Hepatitis B
  • Require surgery

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Miami School of Medicine

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Dieter JN, Kumar AM, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 increased in preterm neonates following massage therapy. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2008 Dec;29(6):463-6. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181856d3b.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature BirthWeight Gain

Interventions

Massage

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obstetric Labor, PrematureObstetric Labor ComplicationsPregnancy ComplicationsFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesBody Weight ChangesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft TissueMusculoskeletal ManipulationsComplementary TherapiesTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitation

Study Officials

  • Tiffany M Field, PhD

    University of Miami

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Director, Touch Research Institute

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 9, 2002

First Posted

January 10, 2002

Study Start

April 1, 2003

Primary Completion

March 1, 2008

Study Completion

March 1, 2008

Last Updated

April 10, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-04

Locations