Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity.

Author: Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Medina L, Delgado J, Hernandez A.
Affiliation: Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016820, Miami, FL 33101, USA; Fielding Graduate University, 2112 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105-3538, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Bodyw Mov Ther.
Date published: 2012 Apr
Other: Volume ID: 16 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 204-9 , Word Count: 114



Eighty-four prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to yoga, massage therapy or standard prenatal care control groups to determine the relative effects of yoga and massage therapy on prenatal depression and neonatal outcomes. Following 12 weeks of twice weekly yoga or massage therapy sessions (20 min each) both therapy groups versus the control group had a greater decrease on depression, anxiety and back and leg pain scales and a greater increase on a relationship scale. In addition, the yoga and massage therapy groups did not differ on neonatal outcomes including gestational age and birthweight, and those groups, in turn, had greater gestational age and birthweight than the control group.
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PMID: 22464118