UDC

615.8+618.2

DOI

10.37482/2687-1491-Z185

Authors

Viktor O. Oguy* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1321-9824
Evgeniy M. Litvichenko* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5116-6612
Evgeniy V. Bykov* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7506-8793

*The Urals State University of Physical Culture
(Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation)

Corresponding author: Viktor Oguy, address: ul. Ordzhonikidze 1, Chelyabinsk, 454091, Russian Federation; e-mail: doktornn@yandex.ru

Abstract

During pregnancy, most women experience a number of health problems, e.g. back pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches, etc. At the same time, it is recommended to treat these conditions with minimal medication. Therefore, non-drug methods, such as massage, and vibroacoustic massage with singing bowls in particular, become relevant. However, an opinion exists that during pregnancy massage should be used with caution, especially in the 1st and 3rd trimesters. The purpose of this article is to analyse the advantages of massage and the specifics of its use in pregnant women, as well as to determine the possibility of applying the author’s method of vibroacoustic massage with singing bowls (patent RU2687006C1) during the prenatal period. In this regard, we analysed the works on the benefits of massage and its use in pregnant women. The ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, eLIBRARY, and PubMed databases were used to search for the following keywords: massage therapy, pregnant women, classical massage, pregnancy, massage, physical therapy modalities, relaxation, pregnancy massage, antenatal massage. As a result, we came to a number of conclusions: 1) healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancy can have massage throughout the gestation period; 2) massage during pregnancy reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety, improves sleep, relieves leg and back pain, and has a positive effect on the immune function; 3) during the massage, moderate pressure should be applied; 4) women with complicated pregnancy should get massage only after consulting an obstetrician; 5) vibroacoustic massage with singing bowls improves blood circulation, reduces anxiety, and improves emotional state and sleep quality, which makes it a promising massage method during pregnancy; however, further research is required to determine its effectiveness and safety as well as to adjust the procedure’s protocol in order to use it in pregnant women.

Keywords

massage, pregnancy, prenatal period, perinatal massage, perineal massage, vibroacoustic massage, singing bowls

References

1. Bryndal A., Majchrzycki M., Grochulska A., Glowinski S., Seremak-Mrozikiewicz A. Risk Factors Associated with Low Back Pain Among a Group of 1510 Pregnant Women. J. Pers. Med., 2020, vol. 10, no. 2. Art. no. 51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm10020051
2. Ogollah R., Bishop A., Lewis M., Grotle M., Foster N.E. Responsiveness and Minimal Important Change for Pain and Disability Outcome Measures in Pregnancy-Related Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain. Phys. Ther., 2019, vol. 99, no. 11, pp. 1551–1561. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz107
3. Unsgaard-Tøndel M., Vasseljen O., Woodhouse A., Morkved S. Exercises for Women with Persistent Pelvic and Low Back Pain After Pregnancy. Glob. J. Health Sci., 2016, vol. 8, no. 9, pp. 107–120. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n9p107
4. Hu X., Ma M., Zhao X., Sun W., Liu Y., Zheng Z., Xu L. Effects of Exercise Therapy for Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain and Pelvic Pain: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 2020, vol. 99, no. 3. Art. no. e17318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017318
5. Sedov I.D., Anderson N.J., Dhillon A.K., Tomfohr-Madsen L.M. Insomnia Symptoms During Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis. J. Sleep Res., 2020, vol. 30, no. 1. Art. no. e13207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13207
6. Liu L., Su G., Wang S., Zhu B. The Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Association with Pregnancy- Related Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sleep Breath., 2018, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 399–412. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11325-018-1714-7
7. Gupta R., Rawat V.S. Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Pregnancy. Handb. Clin. Neurol., 2020, vol. 172, pp. 169–186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-64240-0.00010-6
8. Smith C.A., Shewamene Z., Galbally M., Schmied V., Dahlen H. The Effect of Complementary Medicines and Therapies on Maternal Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Affect. Disord., 2019, vol. 245, pp. 428–439. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.054
9. Dennis C.-L., Falah-Hassani K., Shiri R. Prevalence of Antenatal and Postnatal Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Br. J. Psychiatry, 2017, vol. 210, no. 5, pp. 315–323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.187179
10. Hall H.G., Cant R., Munk N., Carr B., Tremayne A., Weller C., Fogarty S., Lauche R. The Effectiveness of Massage for Reducing Pregnant Women’s Anxiety and Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Midwifery, 2020, vol. 90. Art. no. 102818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102818
11. Santi L.K.S., Sudewi A.A.R., Duarsa D.P., Lesmana C.B.J. The Relationship of Pregnancy Massage to the Rate of Anxiety Depression and Stress in Pregnant Women. Int. J. Health Med. Sci., 2021, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 208–214.
12. Kurki T., Hiilesmaa V., Raitasalo R., Mattila H., Ylikorkala O. Depression and Anxiety in Early Pregnancy and Risk for Preeclampsia. Obstet. Gynecol., 2000, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 487–490. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(99)00602-x
13. Dayan J., Creveuil C., Herlicoviez M., Herbel C., Baranger E., Savoye C., Thouin A. Role of Anxiety and Depression in the Onset of Spontaneous Preterm Labor. Am. J. Epidemiol., 2002, vol. 155, no. 4, pp. 293–301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/155.4.293
14. Oberlander T.F., Warburton W., Misri S., Aghajanian J., Hertzman C. Neonatal Outcomes Аfter Prenatal Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants and Maternal Depression Using Population-Based Linked Health Data. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 2006, vol. 63, no. 8, pp. 898–906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.8.898
15. Fogarty S., McInerney C., Stuart C., Hay P. The Side Effects and Mother or Child Related Physical Harm from Massage During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: An Observational Study. Complement. Ther. Med., 2019, vol. 42, pp. 89–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.002
16. Mueller S.M., Grunwald M. Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J. Clin. Med., 2021, vol. 10, no. 16. Art. no. 3485. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163485
17. Khojasteh F., Rezaee N., Safarzadeh A., Sahlabadi R., Shahrakipoor M. Comparison of the Effects of Massage Therapy and Guided Imagery on Anxiety of Nulliparous Women During Pregnancy. Pharm. Lett., 2016, vol. 8, no. 18, pp. 1–7.
18. Rumyantseva Z.S., Miklin O.P., Simchin S.A., Gafarov E.E. Ginekologicheskiy massazh, ego obshchaya kontseptsiya i aktual’nost’ [Gynaecological Massage, Its General Concept and Relevance]. Mod. Sci., 2022, no. 6-2, pp. 51–55.
19. Milinskaya L.N. Massazh glubokikh tkaney i ego vliyanie na boli v poyasnitse i funktsional’nuyu aktivnost’ u beremennykh zhenshchin [Deep Tissue Massage and Its Effect on Low Back Pain and Functional Activity in Pregnant Women]. Nauchnyy forum: meditsina, biologiya i khimiya [Scientific Forum: Medicine, Biology and Chemistry]. Vol. 1. Moscow, 2020, pp. 10–15.
20. Cahyani I.A., Winarsih S., Arfiana A. The Effect of Endorphin Massage Towards Decreasing Low Back Pain in Third Trimester Pregnant Women. Midwifery Nurs. Res., 2020, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 41–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.31983/manr.v2i1.5520
21. Bušková J., Miletínová E., Králová R., Dvořáková T., Tefr Faridová A., Heřman H., Hrdličková K., Šebela A. Parasomnias in Pregnancy. Brain Sci., 2023, vol. 13, no. 2. Art. no. 357. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13020357
22. Hall H., Munk N., Carr B., Fogarty S., Cant R., Holton S., Weller C., Lauche R. Maternal Mental Health and Partner-Delivered Massage: A Pilot Study. Women Birth, 2021, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. e237–e247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.05.003
23. Field T., Deeds O., Diego M., Hernandez-Reif M., Gauler A., Sullivan S., Wilson D., Nearing G. Benefits of Combining Massage Therapy with Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Prenatally Depressed Women. J. Bodyw. Mov. Ther., 2009, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 297–303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.10.002
24. Field T., Diego M., Hernandez-Reif M., Deeds O., Figueiredo B. Pregnancy Massage Reduces Prematurity, Low Birthweight and Postpartum Depression. Infant Behav. Dev., 2009, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 454–460. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.07.001
25. Shipman M.K., Boniface D.R., Tefft M.E., McCloghry F. Antenatal Perineal Massage and Subsequent Perineal Outcomes: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 1997, vol. 104, no. 7, pp. 787–791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12021.x
26. Albers L.L. Reducing Genital Tract Trauma at Birth: Launching a Clinical Trial in Midwifery. J. Midwifery Women’s Health, 2003, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 105–110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1526-9523(02)00415-4
27. Beckmann M.M., Garrett A.J. Antenatal Perineal Massage for Reducing Perineal Trauma. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev., 2006, no. 1. Art. no. CD005123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd005123.pub2
28. Shneyderman M.G., Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A. Rol’ i mesto ginekologicheskogo massazha v profilaktike razryvov promezhnosti v rodakh i opushcheniya tazovykh organov posle rodov [Role and Place of Gynaecological Massage in Preventing Perineal Tears During Childbirth and Pelvic Organ Prolapse After Childbirth]. Consilium medicum, 2013, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 37–39.
29. Shahoei R., Zaheri F., Hashemi Nasab L., Ranaei F. The Effect of Perineal Massage During the Second Stage of Birth on Nulliparous Women Perineal: A Randomization Clinical Trial. Electron. Physician, 2017, vol. 9, no. 10, pp. 5588–5595. http://dx.doi.org/10.19082/5588
30. Demirel G., Golbasi Z. Effect of Perineal Massage on the Rate of Episiotomy and Perineal Tearing. Int. J. Gynecol. Obstet., 2015, vol. 131, no. 2, pp. 183–186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.04.048
31. Akhlaghi F., Sabeti Baygi Z., Miri M., Najaf Najafi M. Effect of Perineal Massage on the Rate of Episiotomy. J. Family Reprod. Health, 2019, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 160–166. http://dx.doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v13i3.2130
32. Mei-Dan E., Walfisch A., Raz I., Harlev S., Levi A., Hallak M. Effect of Perineal Massage During Pregnancy on Perineal Trauma: A Prospective Controlled Trial. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 2004, vol. 191, no. 6, suppl. Art. no. S189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2004.10.582
33. Álvarez-González M., Leirós-Rodríguez R., Álvarez-Barrio L., López-Rodríguez A.F. Perineal Massage During Pregnancy for the Prevention of Postpartum Urinary Incontinence: Controlled Clinical Trial. Medicina (Kaunas), 2022, vol. 58, no. 10. Art. no. 1485. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina58101485
34. El-Hosary E.A., Abbas Soliman H.F., El-Homosy S.M. Effect of Therapeutic Massage on Relieving Pregnancy Discomforts. IOSR-JNHS, 2016, vol. 5, no. 4, ver. 2, pp. 57–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.9790/1959-0504025764
35. Chen P.-J., Chou C.-C., Yang L., Tsai Y.-L., Chang Y.-C., Liaw J.-J. Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Pregnant Women’s Stress and Immune Function: A Longitudinal, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. J. Altern. Complement. Med., 2017, vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 778–786. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0426
36. Urtnowska K., Bułatowicz I., Ludwikowski G. Massage During Pregnancy – Indications, Contraindications, General Principles for Performing the Treatment. FP, 2017, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 88–94.
37. Field T., Hernandez-Reif M., Diego M. Newborns of Depressed Mothers Who Received Moderate versus Light Pressure Massage During Pregnancy. Infant Behav. Dev., 2006, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 54–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2005.07.004
38. Ortiz M., Manber R., Schnyer R.N., Lyell D., Chambers A.S., Caughey A.B., Druzin M., Carlyle E., Celio C., Gress J.L., Huang M.I., Kalista T., Martin-Okada R., Allen J.J. Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Dtsch. Z. Akupunkt., 2010, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 43–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dza.2010.04.009
39. Behera C., Devassy S., Mridha A.R., Chauhan M., Gupta S.K. Leg Massage by Mother Resulting in Fatal Pulmonary Thromboembolism. Med. Leg. J., 2017, vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 146–150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0025817217706645
40. Jabr F.I. Massive Pulmonary Emboli After Legs Massage. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil., 2007, vol. 86, no. 8, p. 691. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/phm.0b013e31811e2a7a
41. Lim D.C.G., Jayanthi H.K., Money-Kyrle A., Ramrakha P. Massaging the Outcome: An Unusual Presentation of Pulmonary Embolism. BMJ Case Rep., 2009, vol. 2009. Art. no. bcr0120091505. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1505
42. Sutham K., Na-Nan S., Paiboonsithiwong S., Chaksuwat P., Tongsong T. Leg Massage During Pregnancy with Unrecognized Deep Vein Thrombosis Could Be Life Threatening: A Case Report. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2020, vol. 20, no. 1. Art. no. 237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02924-w
43. Ugboma H.A.A., Akani C.I. Abdominal Massage: Another Cause of Maternal Mortality. Niger. J. Med., 2004, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 259–262.
44. Neri I., Monari F., Midwife C.S., Facchinetti F. Acupuncture in Post-Date Pregnancy: A Pilot Study. J. Matern. Fetal Neonatal Med., 2014, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 874–878. https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2013.845158
45. Torkzahrani S., Mahmoudikohani F., Saatchi K., Sefidkar R., Banaei M. The Effect of Acupressure on the Initiation of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Women Birth, 2017, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 46–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2016.07.002
46. Oguy V.O. Vliyanie avtorskogo metoda vibroakusticheskogo massazha poyushchimi chashami na pokazateli arterial’nogo davleniya i chastoty serdechnogo ritma [Effect of the Author’s Method of Vibroacoustic Massage with Singing Bowls on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate]. Maletina E.B. (ed.). Problemy podgotovki nauchnykh i nauchnopedagogicheskikh kadrov: opyt i perspektivy [Problems of Training Scientific and Academic Personnel: Experience and Prospects]. Iss. 19. Chelyabinsk, 2022, pp. 148–153.
47. Oguj V.O. Features of the Heart Rate Vegetative Regulation When Using the Author’s Method of Vibroacoustic Massage with Singing Bowls. Mod. Iss. Biomed., 2022, vol. 6, no. 1 (in Russ.). https://dx.doi.org/10.51871/2588-0500_2022_06_01_23
48. Oguy V.O., Tarasenko A.A., Svirshch E.N. Issledovanie effektivnosti vibroakusticheskogo tibetskogo massazha dlya snizheniya urovnya trevozhnosti [Research of the Efficiency of Vibroacoustic Tibetan Massage to Reduce the Level of Anxiety]. Sovremennaya nauka: aktual’nye problemy teorii i praktiki. Ser.: Poznanie, 2019, no. 6, pp. 82–90.
49. Oguy V.O., Bykov E., Litvichenko E. Single Vibroacoustic Impact Effect of Singing Bowls over the Psycho- Emotional State and Cardiovascular System Work. J. Intellect. Disabil. Diagn. Treat., 2021, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 483–494. http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2021.09.05.7
50. Oguy V.O. Vliyanie avtorskogo metoda vibroakusticheskogo massazha poyushchimi chashami na kachestvo zhizni [Author’s Method of Vibroacoustic Resonance Bowls Massage Impact over the Quality of Life]. Maletina E.B. (ed.). Problemy podgotovki nauchnykh i nauchno-pedagogicheskikh kadrov: opyt i perspektivy [Problems of Training Scientific and Academic Personnel: Experience and Prospects]. Iss. 18. Chelyabinsk, 2021, pp. 148–151.
51. Oguj V.O. Influence of the Course Application of the Author’s Method of Vibroacoustic Massage with Singing Bowls on the Disorder and Quality of Sleep. Mod. Iss. Biomed., 2022, vol. 6, no. 1 (in Russ.). https://dx.doi.org/10.51871/2588-0500_2022_06_01_22