Effect of therapeutic touch on brain activation of preterm infants in response to sensory punctate stimulus: a near-infrared spectroscopy-based study

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2013 May;98(3):F244-8. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301469. Epub 2012 Jul 21.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether therapeutic touch in preterm infants can ameliorate their sensory punctate stimulus response in terms of brain activation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Methods: The study included 10 preterm infants at 34-40 weeks' corrected age. Oxyhaemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration, heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and body movements were recorded during low-intensity sensory punctate stimulation for 1 s with and without therapeutic touch by a neonatal development specialist nurse. Each stimulation was followed by a resting phase of 30 s. All measurements were performed with the infants asleep in the prone position.

Results: sensory punctate stimulus exposure significantly increased the oxy-Hb concentration but did not affect HR, SaO2 and body movements. The infants receiving therapeutic touch had significantly decreased oxy-Hb concentrations over time.

Conclusions: Therapeutic touch in preterm infants can ameliorate their sensory punctate stimulus response in terms of brain activation, indicated by increased cerebral oxygenation. Therefore, therapeutic touch may have a protective effect on the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow during sensory punctate stimulus in neonates.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Oxygen / blood*
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
  • Oxyhemoglobins / metabolism*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods*
  • Therapeutic Touch / methods*

Substances

  • Oxyhemoglobins
  • Oxygen