The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment, no blinding) and by imprecise results (few patients).
A Cochrane review included 10 studies with a total of 1055 subjects. Less pain during labour was reported from massage compared with usual care during the first stage of labour (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.81, 95% CI -1.06 to -0.56; 6 trials, n=362). Other comparisons of massage gave inconclusive results. One trial of massage compared with usual care found reduced anxiety during the first stage of labour (MD -16.27, 95% CI -27.03 to -5.51; n=60).
Date of latest search:2018-05-02