Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 12, Issue 2 , Pages 146-150 , April 2008

Massage therapy reduces pain in pregnant women, alleviates prenatal depression in both parents and improves their relationships

  • Tiffany Field, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, FL, USA
    • Fielding Graduate University, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School, P.O. Box 016820, Miami, FL, USA. Tel.: +13052436781.
    • ,
  • Barbara Figueiredo

      Affiliations

    • University of Minho, Portugal
    • ,
  • Maria Hernandez-Reif

      Affiliations

    • University of Alabama, USA
    • ,
  • Miguel Diego

      Affiliations

    • Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, FL, USA
    • ,
  • Osvelia Deeds

      Affiliations

    • Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, FL, USA
    • ,
  • Angela Ascencio

      Affiliations

    • Touch Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, FL, USA

Received 18 May 2007 ,Revised 7 June 2007 ,Accepted 10 June 2007.

References 

  1. Bernazzani O, Conroy S, Marks M, Siddle K, Guedeney N, Bifulco A, et al. Contextual assessment of the maternity experience (CAME): development of an instrument for cross-cultural research. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2004;148:20–32
  2. Buist A, Morse C, Durkin S. Men's adjustment to fatherhood: implications for obstetric health care. Journal of Obstetric and Gynecology Neonatal Nursing. 2003;32:172–180
  3. Codon J, Boyce P, Corkindale C. The first-time fathers study: a prospective study of the mental health and wellbeing of men during the transition to parenthood. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2004;38:56–64
  4. Da Costa D, Larouche J, Dritsa M, Brender W. Psychological correlates of prepartum and postpartum depressed mood. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2000;59:31–40
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  7. Feijo L, Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Burns W, Valley-Gray S, Simco E. Mothers’ depressed mood and anxiety levels are reduced after massaging their preterm infants. Infant Behavior and Development. 2006;29:476–480
  8. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Quintino O, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Elder retired volunteers benefit from giving massage therapy to infants. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 1998;17:229–239
  9. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Hart S, Theakston H, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, et al. Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1999;20:31–38
  10. Field T, Diego M, Cullen C, Hernandez-Reif M, Sunshine W, Douglas S. Fibromyalgia pain and substance P decrease and sleep improves after massage therapy. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 2002;8:72–76
  11. Field T, Diego M, Dieter J, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, et al. Prenatal depression effects on the fetus and the newborn. Infant Behavior and Development. 2004;27:216–229
  12. Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Massage therapy effects on depressed pregnant women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004;25:115–122
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  14. Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Figueiredo B, Deeds O, Contogeorgos J, et al. Prenatal paternal depression. Infant Behavior and Development. 2006;29:579–583
  15. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M. Newborns of depressed mothers who received moderate versus light pressure massage during pregnancy. Infant Behavior and Development. 2006;29:54–58
  16. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M. Stability of mood states and biochemistry across pregnancy. Infant Behavior and Development. 2006;29:262–267
  17. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Fraser M. Lower back pain and sleep disturbance are reduced following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy. 2007;11:141–145
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  21. Latifses V, Bendell Estroff D, Field T, Bush J. Fathers massaging and relaxing their pregnant wives lowered anxiety and facilitated marital adjustment. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2005;9:277–282
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  27. Rubertson C, Waldenstroem U, Wickberg B. Depressive mood in early pregnancy: prevalence and women at risk in a national Swedish sample. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2003;21:113–123
  28. Simpson J, Rholes S, Campbell L, Tran S, Wilson C. Adult attachment style, the transition to parenthood, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2003;84:1172–1187
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PII: S1360-8592(07)00082-4

doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.06.003

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 12, Issue 2 , Pages 146-150 , April 2008

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