Although multiple infant massage studies have
included infants born at less than 32 weeks’
gestation, only 2 massage studies met the inclusion
criteria of this review for early postnatal touch commencement
(PMA 31 weeks’ gestation). Both
studies used the same patient population. Mendes
and Procianoy25 examined short-term benefits of
infant massage, while Procianoy and colleagues31
examined long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes
at 2 years of age.