Tactile–kinesthetic stimulation in premature newborn

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the effects of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation in relation to the behavioral and physiological status of premature newborns admitted to an intensive care unit of a public reference hospital for the assistance of this population. Method: the vital signs and behavioral status of six preterm infants were assessed using the adapted Brazelton scale before and after five minutes of intervention. Results: a statistically significant increase in respiratory rate (p=0.020), temperature (p=0.042) and behavioral status (p=0.024) was observed after the intervention, with rapid return of vital signs to baseline values. Conclusion: tactile-kinesthetic stimulation was beneficial for premature babies in this study, and because it is a low-cost, accessible and practical technique, it can be further researched by physical therapists so that the evidence corroborates its implementation in the hospital context.