Touch Connection

Touch improves communication between parent and infant. Touch Connection, with the same motive, hopes to strenghten the communication of touch among professionals.

Numerous research reports show that human touch is a powerful contributor to an infant's ability to thrive and grow. A handful of parents, clinicians and researchers continue their commitment to this traditional therapy. Mother's College of Johnson & Johnson (HK) would like to compile all factual information on touch and share with you via this eNewsletter, Touch Connection. This is in line with our commitment to forge partnership with healthcare professionals in providing quality pediatric care to both mothers and babies that we serve.

In Touch Worldwide, you can learn what happens around the world on "touch". In Touch Hong Kong, we will focus on what's happening locally. In Abstract Reviews, we recommend significant papers that you may wish to consider for further reading. In Touch Highlights, we remind you the key points while performing baby massage. We also welcome any submission of papers about Touch. Simply mail to us at: Mother's College, Johnson & Johnson (HK) Ltd, 13/F, Tower 1, Grand Century Place, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok, Kowloon, HK. If you have any questions, or would like to seek more information on Baby Massage, you can contact the editor at 2738 2880.

Touch is a centuries-old art of nurturing and healing practised by many cultures. It has assumed many forms, from rubbing and anointing to kneading, percussing and, in modern times, rolfing and reflexology. The use of touch and massage as a healing method was recorded in ancient Egypt, China, Greece, India as well as the Roman Period.

Modern attempts to understand the nature of massage probably date back to 1881, when Dr. Zabludowski, a professor of massage at the University of Berlin, conducted a series of experiments on frogs.

In 1975, Johnson & Johnson conducted a multidisciplinary paediatric roundtable that focused on the attachment between babies and parents. This drove great clinical interest on the association between touch and the growth and development of babies and children. As a result, a series of multidisciplinary paediatric roundtables have since continued.

1992
Johnson & Johnson supported the establishment of the Touch Research Institutes as the first centre in the world devoted solely to the study of touch, and its application in medicine to improve the health and well-being of babies and children. During the same year, research on benefits of touch in Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin contact between parents and babies also commenced at other international sites.

1994
The Touch Therapy Institute at the University of Philippines, Philippines General Hospital, was established.

1996 - 1998
Johnson & Johnson presented Touch Speakers Tours for paediatric professionals in China, Thailand, The Philippines and other countries in Asia Pacific to share clinical information on touch and child development.

1998
The Chinese Paediatric Society, Chinese Maternity Society and Nurses Association incorporated the Johnson's Baby Touch Program into their education modules. The first of many Touch Rooms was also set up at the Shanghai International Peace Maternity & Children Hospital that provides mothers with a conducive environment to learn about baby massage.

2001
The Chinese Paediatric Society presented a new clinical study on baby massage at the 23rd International Congress of Paediatrics in Beijing China.

2003
Johnson & Johnson sponsored a symposium at the 11th Asian Congress of Paediatrics and encourage research into the relatively new area of paediatric sleep. Massage as a useful routine to help babies sleep better came to the fore at this symposium. A new study to explore the subject further was initiated.

2004
Poster presentation at the 24th International Congress of Paediatrics focused on the benefits of touch on growing children aged 0-3. Moreover, preliminary studies on baby massage and sleep were presented at the inaugural meeting of CARES, the Asia Pacific Sleep Alliance. In addition, Dr. Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute also published the first compilation of worldwide touch clinicals, 'Touch and Massage in Early Child Development'.

1998
Touch education begun in Hong Kong. A team of paediatric professionals went overseas to learn the theories, skills and the latest information on baby massage. A tailormade VCD and books on Touch were delivered to both professionals and interested mothers. A training tour was conducted at various hospitals.

1999
Another team of paediatric professionals and midwives visited Taiwan, and learnt the latest techniques and theories of baby massage.

2000
Baby Massage Classes were organised not just for professionals but also open to the public.

2003
The first 'Advanced Practitioner Baby Massage Programme', co-organised by the Hong Kong Nursing Association and Touch Research Institutes in US, being sponsored by Mother's College of Johnson & Johnson Hong Kong, was launched. Moreover, special events were held to promote baby massage to the public.

2004
The second 'Advanced Practitioner Baby Massage Programme', co-organised by the Hong Kong Midwives Association and Touch Research Institutes in US, being sponsored by Mother's College of Johnson & Johnson Hong Kong, was held with much acclaim.

'Touch Wonderlands' were also launched in the same year, which was an educational program aimed at teaching mothers on baby massage.

Abstract
Massage therapy during pregnancy benefits the mother-to-be and the fetus. Massage during labor also benefits the expectant mother, reducing her labor pain and shortening her labor. Elderly volunteers who massaged infants lowered their own stress hormone levels, as well as improved the health of the newborns. In addition, depressed mothers who massaged their infants experienced decreased depression. In this paper, studies are reviewed on massage therapy during pregnancy and labor, as well as infant massage for full-term and preterm infants, and the benefits experienced by those who give and those who receive the massage.

Abstract
In this study, 405 healthy and sick term and preterm infants were provided massage 3 times per day for 15 minutes each at a consecutive of 10 days. Three different types of massage were compared; including the type discussed by Field and colleagues in their article published in Pediatrics in 1986 that involves massaging the entire body (overall body massage), a simpler massage covering the head, abdomen, hands and feet, and a simple massage plus the rubbing of acupressure points. Although no significant difference was noted in formula intake, greater increases in daily weight were noted in the group that received the overall body massage and the group that received massage with acupressure points. No significant difference was noted in head circumference or body length. Preterm sick babies also benefited from the overall massage by showing a lesser decrease in their hemoglobin status than did infants in other groups.

Abstract
The neonate spends most of the perinatal period sleeping. Whereas the full-term neonate sleeps 70% of the 24-hour period, the preterm infant sleeps up to 90% of a full day. Since self-regulation and growth occur at sleep, enhancing sleep and assuring undisturbed sleep by the caregiver are of great importance. In addition, one of the natural and immediate ways to comfort an infant is by holding, touching, stroking and keeping the infant in close physical contact with a caregiver. This study provides empirical evidence on the benefits of touch by a caregiver on sleep. The infant's sleep and adjustment to the day-night cycle are described, and the effects of massage therapy are illustrated by empirical data.

Abstract
Although the positive effects of massage therapy on infant behavior and growth have been well documented, few studies have evaluated the reinforcing effects of different types of tactile stimulation on infant behavior, or the distinction between maternally delivered and infant-originated tactile stimulation. The study detailed in this paper assessed 3 types of tactile stimulation delivered at 2 levels of tactile pressure. Results from this study revealed that the type of touch preferred most by infants was 'intense stroking'. Conversely, the type of touch preferred least by infants was 'intense poking'. The methods used in this study provide a reliable means of quantifying tactile pressure.