Effects of combined acupressure and meridian massage on
increasing body weight in low birth weight premature infants
Li-Li Chen1 Li-Chi Huang1 Yi-Chang Su2 Hung-Chih Lin3 Bai-Horng Su4 1 PhD, RN, associate professor, School of Nursing, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
2 PhD, Dr, Professor, School of Chinese medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
3 Master, Dr., Professor, Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan 4 PhD, Dr., Professor, School of Chinese medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Background:
Message therapy has been administered to facilitate weight gain for preterm infants.
Aims:
The purpose of study was to explore the effect of combined acupressure and meridian massage on body weight in premature infants with low birth weight.
Table1. Comparison of baseline data of the experimental and control groups (N=41)
Noticed ： t- test
Results:
There was a homogeneous result on
subjects’ demographic data and volume of milk ingested between two groups.
The daily average weight-gain of infants in the experimental group was 30.6gm
(SD=6.7) compared with 26.4gm (SD=6.5) in the control group. The
weight gain observed in the experimental group was significantly higher than that observed in the control group.
Methods:
A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in a medical central in Taiwan. Forty one subjects were
randomized into two groups. The 19 subjects in the experimental group
were given a standardized procedure of intervention which included
acupressure on Zhongwan, Zusanli,
Yongquan points, abdominal rubbing, spleen and stomach meridian massage, and kneading the acupoints along
spine of the bladder meridian. The intervention was administered one hour before meal, 15 minutes each
time, three times a day, and continually for 15 days. The 22 subjects in control group underwent routine care and were observed. The data of infants’ body
weights and volume of milk ingested were recorded.
Key Word:
Acupressure, Meridian Massage, low birth weight Premature,
Body weight gain
Conclusion:
The study reveals that acupressure and meridian massage have a significant
effect on weight-gain in premature infants with low birth weight.
The study suggests that aacupressure a nd meridian massage techniques could be a strategy for improving quality care of premature infants with low birth
weight.
Figure 1. Total weight gained per day by the experimental group and the control group ↓ Day Items Acupressure G (n= 19) Observation G (n= 22) t p-value Mean SD Mean SD Gestational Age 209.32 24.29 206.73 16.54 0.403 0.689 Birth Weight 1183.47 275.55 1131.36 279.24 0.600 0.552 BW 1 D before study 1585.21 61.67 1569.50 60.25 0.824 0.415 Total feeding volume-14days 3888.21 573.33 3731.23 207.86 1.131 0.270 Day of Birth 38.37 23.62 42.50 20.85 -0.595 0.555 Admission length 65.11 26.58 80.05 27.30 -1.724 0.093 Apgar Score 1 7.16 2.24 7.09 2.29 0.094 0.925 5 8.63 1.50 8.91 1.34 -0.626 0.535
