Massage and counter-pressure

Research on massage and counter-pressure looks at touch and manual techniques for easing labor pain. Randomized trials compare rotational effleurage with connective tissue massage, test mechanical massage and electric massage chairs, and study massage with acupressure. One trial looks at dance and massage applied by spouses, and another at warm and cold acupressure at the LI4 point.

Outcomes include pain, labor duration, comfort, and satisfaction, and some trials also look at perineal outcomes. A systematic review covers massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour. Broader papers place massage among other options, including an overview of systematic reviews on pain management, an integrative review of non-pharmacological therapies, and a practice bulletin on obstetric analgesia and anesthesia.

Parents often ask what a support person can do with their hands, and whether massage helps. An educator may want slides that show a range of touch techniques and describe how researchers have measured their effects. The papers below are the ones the Hub tracks on this topic.