While preterm infant cardiac vagal activity has yet to be assessed independently
for kinesthetic and tactile stimulation, studies with adults
suggest that passive exercise, which is similar to the kinesthetic stimulation
protocol used with preterm infants, inhibits cardiac vagal activity
[10,11], while moderate pressure massage therapy, which is analogous
to the tactile stimulation protocol used with preterm infants, increases
cardiac vagal activity [12]. The aimof this studywas to compare the effects
of the tactile and the kinesthetic stimulation protocols on preterm
infant weight gain while exploring cardiac vagal activity as a potential
underlying mechanism.