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Massage of infants has been practiced globally and been advocated by health professionals. This article provides an overview of studies of its effect involving randomised controlled trials (RCT) and clinical controlled trials (CCT) published 1995-2005. A computer-aided search utilizing Cochrane Library, Medline and Cinahl was carried out in May 2006, the search words «infant massage» limited to clinical controlled trials (CCT) for infants aged 0-23 months being employed. The twenty articles satisfying the inclusion criteria were analysed. Results in six different areas are taken up: weight gain, analgesia, behavioural development and sleep patterns, parent-infant interaction, bone mineralization, and protection against infection. The major findings were that infant massage increased weight gain and provided protection against infections in both preterm and full term infants. Massage intervention appeared to improve behavioural development and sleep patterns. Infant massage was found to improve motherinfant interaction for mothers with postnatal depression and parental interaction with premature babies, its likewise improving bone mineralization in premature infants when combined with physical activity. Massage therapy was shown to provide analgesia and to sometimes help colicky infants. No harmful effects of infant massage were reported.

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