Effect of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation on weight gaining of preterm infants

 Abstract  Background: The quality of life and standard of health care in a society is measured  by its preterm infants' mortality rate. The popularity and credibility of alternative  treatment such as touch therapy may be effective in preterm and low birth weight  infants in order to increase their survival rate. The aim of this study was to determine  the effect of touch intervention on the weight gain of preterm infants who were admitted  to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unite(NICU). Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial performed in NICU of  Emamreza hospital, Mashhad, Iran, from July 2007 to November 2007. There were  two groups (the control group and the case group) and one response variable (weight  gain). Infants in the control group received routine nursing care. Infants in the case  group, in addition to the routine care, received stroking/passive limb movement therapy  for three 15 minute sessions per day for a 10 day period. Then weight gaining was  compared between the two groups .  Results: The weight gain data was analyzed by SPSS software. Over the 10 day  study period, the case group gained significantly more weight compared to the control  group (p<0.001 (.  Conclusion: The data suggest that stroking/passive limb movement can be an efficient  and cost effective way of enhancing growth in stable preterm infants .