Top

Systematic Reviews

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Massage | Protocol

Massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years of age: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

Authors: Shu-Cheng Chen, Juan Yu, Sam Chun-Sum Yuen, Jason Chun-Sing Lam, Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen, Wing-Fai Yeung

Published in: Systematic Reviews | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Introduction

Massage is a popularly used complementary and alternative therapy. Previous randomised controlled trials have examined the effects of massage on children, and several systematic reviews have been conducted to synthesise these data. This study aims to assess and summarise the current evidence from published systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials on the practice of paediatric massage, specifically in infants and children aged < 5 years.

Methods

The online databases MEDLINE, Embase, Health Technology Assessment Database, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Allied and Complementary Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data will be searched from the inception onwards for evidence of the treatment effects. We will include systematic reviews of randomised control trials evaluating the effects and safety of massage therapy in infants and children aged < 5 years. The primary outcomes will be any physical or psychological outcome, and adverse effects on children. Secondary outcomes will include any physical or psychological outcome on caregivers. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles for inclusion as per the eligibility criteria. They will extract information from the included studies and assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A table will be used to summarise of information of the included studies, which includes the basic information, method and findings. The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews will be assessed by A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews version 2 (AMSTAR 2). Extracted data from the included studies will be collected and presented using narrative approach. The pooled effect estimates for meta-analysed outcomes will be extracted when possible. If there is a discrepancy in results of two or more reviews on the same topic, then the causes of such discrepancy will be further explored.

Discussion

This overview of systematic reviews will summarise the current evidence on massage, specifically for infants and children aged < 5 years. We will comprehensively present the positive effects and adverse effects of this intervention. Findings from this overview will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Systematic review registration

CRD42020186003.

Available only for authorised users

World Health Organization. Global health observatory (GHO) data. http://origin.who.int/gho/child_health/en/. Accessed 25 June 2020.

Premature birth. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-birth/symptoms-causes/syc-20376730. Accessed 8 June 2020.

Tse P, Cheng J, Chow Y, Leung PC. Surgery for neglected congenital torticollis. Acta Orthop Scand. 1987;58(3):270–2. https://doi.org/10.3109/17453678709146482.CrossRefPubMed

Yu C-C, Wong F-H, Lo L-J, Chen YR. Craniofacial deformity in patients with uncorrected congenital muscular torticollis: an assessment from three-dimensional computed tomography imaging. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;113(1):24–33. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PRS.0000096703.91122.69.CrossRefPubMed

World Health Organization. Diarrhoeal disease. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease2017 Accessed 8 June 2020.

Liu MJ, Wang JG, Wu S, et al. Pediatric Tuina. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2017.

Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States; 2007. National Health Statistics Reports-NHSR. https://doi.org/10.1037/e623942009-001.CrossRef

Fraser Institute. Complementary and alternative medicine: use and public attitudes 1997, 2006, and 2016. https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-use-and-public-attitudes-1997-2006-and-2016. [updated April 25, 2017. Accessed 25 June 2020].

Smith C, Eckert K. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine and use among children in South Australia. J Paediatr Child Health. 2006;42(9):538–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00918.x.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Zuzak TJ, Boňková J, Careddu D, Garami M, Hadjipanayis A, Jazbec J, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by children in Europe: published data and expert perspectives. Complement Ther Med. 2012;21(1):S34–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.01.001.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Kim J-H, Nam C-M, Kim M-Y, Lee DC. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children: a telephone-based survey in Korea. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12(1):46. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-46.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

12.

Birdee GS, Phillips RS, Davis RB, Gardiner P. Factors associated with pediatric use of complementary and alternative medicine. Pediatrics. 2010;125(2):249–56. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-1406.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Kemper KJ, Vohra S, Walls R, the Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the Provisional Section on Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2008;122(6):1374–86. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-2173.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Torrazza RM, Neu J. The developing intestinal microbiome and its relationship to health and disease in the neonate. J Perinatol. 2011;31(S1):S29–34. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2010.172.CrossRef

15.

Gottschling S, Gronwald B, Schmitt S, Schmitt C, Längler A, Leidig E, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in healthy children and children with chronic medical conditions in Germany. Complement Ther Med. 2011;21(1):S61–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.06.001.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Robinson N, Blair M, Lorenc A, Gully N, Fox P, Mitchell K. Complementary medicine use in multi-ethnic paediatric outpatients. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007;14(1):17–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2007.07.003.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Beider S, Mahrer NE, Gold JI. Pediatric massage therapy: an overview for clinicians. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2007;54(6):1025–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2007.10.001.CrossRef

18.

Yina A. Pediatric massage: a massage therapist’s guide to getting started. https://mtf.amtamassage.org/wp-content/uploads/mtf-pediatric-ebook.pdf. Accessed 25 June 2020.

19.

Posadzki P, Watson LK, Alotaibi A, Ernst E. Prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (cam) by patients/consumers in the UK: systematic review of surveys. Clin Med. 2013;13(2):126–31. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.13-2-126.CrossRef

20.

Yussman SM, Ryan SA, Auinger P, Weitzman M. Visits to complementary and alternative medicine providers by children and adolescents in the United States. Ambul Pediatr. 2004;4(5):429–35. https://doi.org/10.1367/A03-091R1.1.CrossRefPubMed

21.

Post-White J, Fitzgerald M, Hageness S, Sencer SF. Complementary and alternative medicine use in children with cancer and general and specialty pediatrics. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2009;26(1):7–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043454208323914.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Gottschling S, Meyer S, Längler A, Scharifi G, Ebinger F, Gronwald B. Differences in use of complementary and alternative medicine between children and adolescents with cancer in Germany: a population based survey. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014;61(3):488–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.24769.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Glew GM, Fan M-Y, Hagland S, et al. Survey of the use of massage for children with cerebral palsy. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2010;3(4):10–5. https://doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v3i4.47.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

24.

Allen T. Using massage to address pediatric digestive issues. Massage Today. 2014;14(12) https://www.massagetoday.com/articles/15010/Using-Massage-to-Address-Pediatric-Digestive-Issues. Accessed 26 Apr 2021.

25.

Bao-Yong L, Liang N, Guo-Yan Y, et al. Pediatric Tui Na for acute diarrhea in children under 5 years old: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:10–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.08.011.CrossRef

26.

The University of Hong Kong. Effects of Paediatric Tuina (Massage) on constipation and related symptoms among the pre-school aged children - a randomized control trial. (Clinical report). 2018. [2362].

27.

Li G, Chun-Hua J, Si-Si M, et al. Pediatric massage for the treatment of anorexia in children: a meta-analysis. World J Tradit Chin Med. 2018;4(3):96–104. https://doi.org/10.4103/wjtcm.wjtcm_12_18.CrossRef

28.

Lee MS, Kim J-I, Ernst E. Massage therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011;72(3):406–11. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.09r05848whi.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Chen S-C, Yu BY-M, Suen LK-P, Yu J, Ho FYY, Yang JJ, et al. Massage therapy for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:389–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.011.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Hawkins C. The effects of atopic eczema on children and their families: a review. Paediatr Nurs. 2005;17(6):35–9. https://doi.org/10.7748/paed.17.6.35.s23.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Zhang X, Wang J. Massage intervention for preterm infants by their mothers: a randomized controlled trial. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2019;24(2):n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12238.CrossRef

32.

Yue Q-J, Wang X-Z, Ren S-L, et al. Effect of pediatric massage in the treatment of chronic persistent asthma in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hainan Med Univ. 2019;25(16):54–9.

33.

Allen T. Pediatric massage: approach for congenital muscular torticollis. Massage Today. 2014;14(10) https://www.massagetoday.com/articles/14981/Pediatric-Massage-Approach-for-Congenital-Muscular-Torticollis. Assessed 25 June 2020.

34.

Zhu B, Rong PJ, Gao XY, et al. Systematic acupunture: People’s Medical Publishing House. 2015.

35.

James HS, Thomas MJ. Principles of neural science. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2000.

36.

Kaplan LS, Coulter LC, Sargent LB. Physical therapy management of congenital muscular torticollis: a 2018 evidence-based clinical practice guideline from the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2018;30(4):240–90. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEP.0000000000000544.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

37.

Field T, Morrow C, Valdeon C, Larson S, Kuhn C, Schanberg S. Massage reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1992;31(1):125–31. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199201000-00019.CrossRefPubMed

38.

Evans S, Tsao JCI, Zeltzer LK. Complementary and alternative medicine for acute procedural pain in children. Altern Ther Health M. 2008;14(5):52–6.

39.

Field T, Kilmer T, Hernandez-Reif M, Burman I. Preschool children's sleep and wake behavior: effects of massage therapy. Early Child Dev Care. 1996;120(1):39–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/0300443961200104.CrossRef

40.

Green AD, Alioto A, Mousa H, di Lorenzo C. Severe pediatric rumination syndrome: successful interdisciplinary inpatient management. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011;52(4):414–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181fa06f3.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Field T, Cullen C, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Sprinz P, Beebe K, et al. Leukemia immune changes following massage therapy. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2001;5(4):271–4. https://doi.org/10.1054/jbmt.2001.0228.CrossRef

42.

Procianoy RS, Mendes EW, Silveira RC. Massage therapy improves neurodevelopment outcome at two years corrected age for very low birth weight infants. Early Hum Dev. 2010;86(1):7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2009.12.001.CrossRefPubMed

43.

Kemper KJ, Shannon S. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies to promote healthy moods. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2007;54(6):901–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2007.09.002.CrossRef

44.

Bennett C, Underdown A, Barlow J. Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD005038. Published 2013 Apr 30. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005038.pub3.

45.

Chen S-C, Ho Y-S, Kwai-Ping Suen L, Yu J, Tang W, Jiang JF, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) massage for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) in infants and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;39:101112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101112.CrossRefPubMed

46.

Gurol A, Polat S. The effects of baby massage on attachment between mother and their infants. Asian Nurs Res. 2012;6(1):35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2012.02.006.CrossRef

47.

Field T. Pediatric massage therapy research: a narrative review. Children (Basel). 2019;6(6):78. Published 2019 Jun 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/children6060078.CrossRef

48.

Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M, et al. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. BMJ. 2015;349:g7647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7647.CrossRef

49.

Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, et al. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011) www.training.cochrane.org/handbook. Accessed 25 June 2020.

50.

Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, et al. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions version 6.0 (updated July 2019) Chapter 19. 2019. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook. Cochrane.CrossRef

51.

Tacconelli E. Book: Systematic reviews: CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. Lancet Infect Dis. 2010;10(4):226. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(10)70065-7.CrossRef

52.

Vickers A, Zollman C. Massage therapies. BMJ. 1999;319:1254.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

53.

Shea BJ, Hamel C, Wells GA, Bouter LM, Kristjansson E, Grimshaw J, et al. AMSTAR is a reliable and valid measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews. J Clin Epidemiol. 2009;62(10):1013–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.10.009.CrossRefPubMed

54.

Shea BJ, Reeves BC, Wells G, Thuku M, Hamel C, Moran J, et al. AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ. 2017;358:j4008. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4008.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

55.

Higgins JPT, Altman DG, Gøtzsche PC, et al. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ. 2011;343(7829). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5928.

56.

Schünemann H, Brożek J, Guyatt G, et al. GRADE handbook for grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations (Updated October 2013). https://gdt.gradepro.org/app/handbook/handbook.html. Accessed 26 June 2020.

57.

World Health Organization. International classification of diseases for mortality and morbidity statistics (11th Revision). https://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/. Accessed 25 June 2020.

58.

John PAI, Stephen JWE, Peter CG, et al. Better reporting of harms in randomized trials: an extension of the CONSORT statement. Am Coll Physicians. 2004;141(10). https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-10-200411160 [published Online First: 781].

59.

Yeung WF, Chung KF, Leung YK, et al. Traditional needle acupuncture treatment for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med. 2009;10(7):694-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2008.08.012.

Title: Massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years of age: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Shu-Cheng Chen
Juan Yu
Sam Chun-Sum Yuen
Jason Chun-Sing Lam
Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen
Wing-Fai Yeung
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Massage
Published in: Systematic Reviews / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2046-4053
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01681-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years of age: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Discussion

Systematic review registration

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Discussion

Systematic review registration

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

Reporting quality evaluation of the stroke clinical practice guidelines: a systematic review

A methodological review protocol of the use of Bayesian factor analysis in primary care research

Does surfactant nebulization prevent early intubation in preterm infants? A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Effects of home visits on quality of life among older adults: a systematic review protocol

Critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for the management of COVID-19: protocol for a systematic review

Paper 3: Selecting rapid review methods for complex questions related to health policy and system issues