The Effect of Spa and Massage on Babies on Colic Symptoms

NCT05538936 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Although various complementary health approaches have been examined to alleviate colic symptoms, there seems to be a limited number of studies on SPA and massage applications. For this reason, the study was planned to determine the effectiveness of nurses' baby SPA and massage practices in reducing colic symptoms in babies.

Conditions

Infantile Colic; Infantile Spasm

Keywords

İnfantile Colic; Baby SPA; hydrotherapy; massage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Data Collection

  The researcher will collect the research data at Van Aquarium Baby SPA and Van İki Nisan Caddesi Private Clinic Center. For the experimental groups, once a week for a total of four applications, the application will end at the end of a month. Introductory Information Form, Infant Colic Scale, and Infant Colic Symptoms Follow-up Form will be applied to the individuals in the experimental and control groups to collect data. Items in the infant colic scale are graded on a Likert-type score from 1 to 6. The rating ranges from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). A low mean score from the scale indicates a decrease in colic, while a high mean score indicates an increase in colic. The Baby Colic Symptoms Follow-up Form is a form that measures the duration and frequency of changes in the baby's colic symptoms. If the time and frequency are reduced, it is concluded that the application is effective.

  6 or 7 months

Study Arms (3)

Baby SPA

EXPERIMENTAL

Baby SPA application time: It is done regularly from the first month, at least once a month. The ideal time for application is the first six months. The water in the tub is prepared to be 33°C. The baby, whose clothes are taken off, wearing a waterproof diaper suitable for the tub and a neck ring, is taken into the tub. The application usually takes 10-15 minutes, depending on the baby's reactions to the water for the first time. After the parent and baby get used to the process, the time can be increased to 30 minutes. In this process, the baby's hands, abdomen, and legs are made to recognize the water and the baby's movements are monitored. Care is taken that the baby does not drink the water. After the application period is over, the baby is removed from the tub and dried with a towel. Finally, the baby is massaged for 10-15 minutes and dressed.

Other: Baby SPA

Massage

EXPERIMENTAL

Massage can be applied to all age periods. Before starting the massage application in babies, some preparations are made. Ambient temperature (24-26 OC) is adjusted, it is regulated so that there is no airflow, dim light, and low noise levels are ensured. 1-2 towels, a soft cushion or massage table, baby oil lotion, clean diapers, and clean clothes are prepared for the massage. There is no standard time interval for the application of massage. It can be done at least one hour after the baby's feeding, at any time of the day when he is not stressed and sleeps. Massage application time is 15-30 minutes depending on the baby's reactions may vary between.

Other: Massage

Control

NO INTERVENTION

It is the control group in which no intervention was applied.

Interventions

Baby SPA OTHER

"Salus Per Aquam", "Sanitas Per Aquam", "Salut Per Aqua" or "Solus Per Aqua" (SPA) means health that comes with water. Baby SPA is a physiotherapy method that stimulates the baby's motor movements through water (hydrotherapy) and performs it in an integrated way to balance the body, mind, and emotions. Baby SPA is applied in specially designed bathtubs. The size of the tub is designed in such a way that children can move their hands and feet freely and not be narrow. A neck ring/ring is used to keep the baby on the water surface during SPA treatment.

Also known as: Hydrotherapy

Baby SPA

Massage OTHER

The best way to communicate with a baby is to touch it. When babies are born, unlike their other senses, the most developed one is the sense of touch. Because this process begins while in the womb. The baby communicates by touch and begins to recognize his environment. The sense of touch is a priority for the development of all senses. They need to perceive their environment, especially in newborns and infancy periods. Touching the body in a systematic way for a therapeutic purpose is called "Massage". Massage is soft touches to body tissues to relax muscles, accelerate circulation, reduce infantile colic symptoms and pain, regulate sleep, and increase its duration. Baby massage has many benefits such as reducing colic symptoms, increasing weight gain, providing motor development and coordination, strengthening the parent and baby bond, supporting growth and development, and reducing stress.

Also known as: Therapeutic Touch

Massage

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Days - 4 Months
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• The willingness of the family to participate in the research
• The baby is between 40 days - 4 months
• The baby was born at term
• Birth weight between 2500 - 4500 g
• The baby's diagnosis of infantile colic by the doctor
• The baby has not started any treatment for infantile colic

You may not qualify if:

• The presence of any congenital anomaly in the baby
• The baby has a diagnosis of lactose intolerance
• The baby has an acute or chronic illness
• There is a wound on the baby's skin or a condition that prevents massage.
• Having a situation that prevents communication with the mother

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yuzuncu Yil University: lead
• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Yuzuncu Yıl University

Van, Turkey, 65090, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Akdogan R, Yildiz S. The effect of SPA and massage applied on babies on colic symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr Nurs. 2025 May-Jun;82:e164-e174. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2025.04.008. Epub 2025 Apr 18.

  PMID: 40253272 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Colic; Spasms, Infantile

Interventions

Hydrotherapy; Massage; Therapeutic Touch

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Epilepsy, Generalized; Epilepsy; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Epileptic Syndromes

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Mind-Body Therapies; Spiritual Therapies

Study Officials

• Rıdvan Akdoğan, PhD

  Yuzuncu Yil University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant (PhD Candidate)

Model Details: Randomized controlled experimental design with pretest-posttest experiment and control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 1, 2022
• First Posted: September 14, 2022
• Study Start: August 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2023
• Study Completion: December 11, 2023
• Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

TU (1)