ReviewChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2019
Pediatric Massage Therapy Research: A Narrative Review.
Review in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 24 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Tactile and Kinaesthetic Stimulation in Preterm Neonates With Hyperbilirubinaemia
Comparison of Massage Therapy and Tissue Flossing Technique in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
The Effect of Infant Massage Applied at Different Durations on Comfort and Physiological Stability in Late Preterm Infants Receiving nCPAP
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 81 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of whole-body massage on growth and neurodevelopment in term healthy newborns: A systematic review.Journal of global health · 2022Pooled it
- Adverse events associated with paediatric massage therapy: a systematic review.BMJ paediatrics open · 2020Pooled it
- Randomized trial evaluating sensorimotor stimulation and functional feeding in high-risk newborns: study protocol.Pediatric research · 2026Trial
- Effect of parental touch on relieving acute procedural pain in neonates and parental anxiety (Petal): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial in the UK.The Lancet. Child & adolescent health · 2024Trial
- The positive effect of mother-performed infant massage on infantile eczema and maternal mental state: A randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in public health · 2022Trial
- Review of paediatric pharmacological and non-pharmacological procedural comfort strategies.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Review
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tuina as an Adjuvant Therapy for Functional Constipation in Children.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Development of interoception: the critical role of maternal affective touch in early attachment.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Article
- Non-invasive physiological indicators of welfare in dairy cows.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2026Article
- Oxytocin release patterns and effects, with a focus on touch, social interaction, and closeness.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Review
- Physiological changes of cortisol and oxytocin following manual therapy: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Review
- Comparison of the Effects of Local Heat and Massage Using the Flick Application on Pain Caused by Vitamin K Injection in Neonates.Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics · 2026Article
- Exploring Manual Interventions for Infantile Colic: A Scoping Review of the Evidence.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Pediatric massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years: An umbrella review of systematic reviews.Heliyon · 2024Article
- The skin-brain connection and pleasant touch as supportive care for psychocutaneous disorders.Skin health and disease · 2024Review
- The effect of deep tissue massage on respiratory parameters in healthy subjects-A non-randomised pilot study.Heliyon · 2023Article
- Lessons learned from child health care nurses' experiences of teaching infant massage groups: A qualitative interview-based study.Nursing open · 2023Article
- Effect of Massage with Oil Balanced in Essential Fatty Acids on Development and Lipid Parameters in Very Premature Neonates: A Randomized, Controlled Study.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Affective touch perception and longing for touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Affective touch in the context of development, oxytocin signaling, and autism.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This narrative review on pediatric massage literature from the last decade suggests that massage therapy has positive effects on several pediatric conditions. These include preterm infant growth, psychological problems including aggression, gastrointestinal problems including constipation and diarrhea, painful conditions including burns and sickle cell, muscle tone disorders including cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, and chronic illnesses including diabetes, asthma cancer, and HIV. Potential underlying mechanisms for the massage therapy effects include increased vagal activity and decreased stress hormones. Limitations of the literature include the need for more randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and underlying mechanism studies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.