Potential of Massage Therapy for Improved Growth and Development Among Infants Under 9 Months: A Systematic Scoping Review of Intervention Type, Technique, and Outcome

Windy Rakhmawati,1,* Henny Suzana Mediani,1,* Meita Dhamayanti,2,* Ida Maryati,3,* Asty Samiaty Setiawan,4,* Sri Hendrawati,1,* Nenden Nur Asriyani Maryam,1,* Alfiah Hasanah,5,* Aep Maulid Mulyana,6,* Dini Mariani,7,* Imat Rochimat8,* 1Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 2Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 3Department of Maternity Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 4Department of Public Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 5Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 6Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia; 7Department of Nursing, Polytechnic Health Ministry of Health Tasikmalaya, Tasikmalaya, West Java, 46115, Indonesia; 8Department of Pharmacy, Polytechnic Health Ministry of Health Tasikmalaya, Tasikmalaya, 46115, Indonesia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Windy Rakhmawati, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia, Tel +62 82119492124, Email windy.rakhmawati@unpad.ac.idBackground: Infants are in a critical period during which often occur many problems, such as growth, development, and motor delays. One of the interventions that can potentially reduce these problems is by giving a massage therapy.Purpose: This study aims to conduct a systematic scoping review of massage therapy’s potential for growth and development among infants under nine months.Methods: This study followed a Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA-ScR). We collected data from three databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL with full text, published in 2013– 2022, subjects aged less than nine months, full-text articles, and randomized controlled trials. Studies were excluded if they were not in English.Results: Of the 11 studies found, it shows that therapy massage can effectively increase infants’ growth and development, including body weight, length, visual-motor coordination and integration, hand-eye, hearing, speech, social, vagal activity, language, locomotion, stationary, and reflexes. The interventions include medium chain triglyceride oil massage, Dabur Lal Tail massage, oil massage, massage by mothers, and massage therapy without additives for 5– 45 minutes. In addition, massage therapy has a positive effect on infants with various conditions, including preterm infants, infants with HIV-infected mothers, and infants with Down’s syndrome.Conclusion: Our findings highlight that infants receiving massage therapy were significantly more likely to increase growth and development than the population who were not given massage therapy. However, further investigation into preventing the severity of growth and developmental problems is urgently needed.Keywords: development, growth, infant, intervention, massage therapy