The effectiveness of massage in early childhood: a review of current scientific research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2415-8127.2026.74.34Keywords:
massage, young children, infants, preterm newborns, physical development, psycho-emotional development, tactile stimulation, rehabilitationAbstract
Massage is one of the most widely used non-pharmacological methods employed to support the health and harmonious development of young children. In modern paediatric practice, there is growing interest in its use as a means of improving a child’s physical development, functional state and psycho-emotional well-being. This paper is devoted to summarising current scientific evidence regarding the impact of massage on the physical, functional and psychoemotional development of children in their first years of life. To achieve this objective, methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and systematisation of the results of clinical studies, randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses were employed. The analysis carried out demonstrated the positive impact of massage on various aspects of early childhood development. The most convincing evidence was obtained regarding improvements in physical development indicators, increased body weight in preterm newborns, optimisation of digestive system function and a reduction in the duration of hospitalisation. A positive effect of massage on sleep quality, psycho-emotional state, stress levels and neuropsychological development in children has been established. Tactile stimulation helps to improve the body’s adaptive capacity, foster an emotional bond between parents and their child, and boost parents’ confidence in caring for their infant. Some studies confirm the effectiveness of massage as an adjunctive method in the comprehensive treatment of neonatal jaundice and in reducing pain responses during medical procedures. At the same time, inconsistencies have been identified in the approaches to performing massage and assessing its effectiveness. The results obtained confirm the appropriateness of using massage as an effective and safe means of supporting the physical, functional and psycho-emotional development of young children. Further research aimed at standardising massage techniques and investigating its longterm impact on a child’s health and development holds great promise.
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