A new study indicates that instinctive stroking by parents can alleviate infant's pain as effectively as a topical anesthetic.
The paper published on Dec. 17 in the journal Current Biology suggests that brushing the child lightly at a certain speed could provide immediate pain relief before necessary medical procedures.
According to the study, tactile stimulation and touch can substitute drugs as successful ways for easing the pain in infants.
Pain Relief With A Simple Touch
The research conducted by Oxford University and Liverpool John Moores University examined the brain activity of 32 infants at the time of their blood tests. Half of the babies that were gently stroked using a soft brush showed 40 percent less pain activity in the brain.
"Touch seems to have analgesic potential without the risk of side-effects," said Rebeccah Slater, a pediatric neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, reported BBC News.
Researchers found that soft touch, especially skin-to-skin, has soothing qualities. Gentle stroking at a specific speed can activate C-fibers that not only feel good but also work wonders in reducing pain. Slater and her team wondered if it will have similar effects on premature babies, too.
Tactile Speed Of Stroking
The study revealed that when stroked at a speed of 3 centimeters per second, it can induce pain-relieving benefits. Prof Slater explained that the parents instinctively use this velocity to stroke their babies.
"If we can better understand the neurobiological underpinnings of techniques like infant massage, we can improve the advice we give to parents on how to comfort their babies."
When the babies are stroked at this speed, the action triggers C-tactile afferents, a class of sensory neurons in the skin, that have been known to reduce discomfort in adults.
"There was evidence to suggest that C-tactile afferents can be activated in babies and that slow, gentle touch can evoke changes in brain activity in infants," said Prof Slater.
The team of researchers examined babies' faces at the time of pricking. They found that while all infants winced when pricked, babies that were not stroked winced at least 50 percent longer.
Based on the findings of the study, researchers suggest that tactile stimulation can be helpful in reducing pain in infants and can support caregivers in facilitating pain management for newborn babies.
