The Effect of Spa and Massage Applied on Babies on Colic Symptoms: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of SPA and massage interventions on infants diagnosed with colic in alleviating colic symptoms. Method: A randomized controlled experimental design was conducted in private infant SPA and pediatric clinic centers in Van province from 29 June 2022 to 12 February 2023. A total of 72 infants aged 40 days to 4 months, born at term with a birth weight of 2500-4500 g and diagnosed with infantile colic (but not receiving prior treatment) were included. The infants were randomized into three groups: SPA, massage, and control. Stratified sampling and Random Allocation Software were used for randomization. Intervention groups received weekly treatment for 4 weeks, while the control group received routine nursing care. The infant SPA and massage application was applied once a week, for a total of 4 sessions within one month. Data were collected using the "Infant Information Form," "Infant Colic Scale," and "Infant Colic Symptom Monitoring Form." Groups were compared regarding symptom frequency and crying duration. Results: The groups showed no significant differences in demographic or descriptive characteristics affecting colic symptoms. The frequency of colic symptoms was significantly lower in both SPA and massage groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the duration of crying associated with colic was significantly reduced in the SPA and massage groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Infant SPA and massage were effective in reducing colic symptoms. It is recommended to widely use these therapies, train parents in massage, and encourage SPA therapy for babies. Clinical Trials Number: NCT05538936. (c) 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.