Chair-Massage for Moms by Partners (CHAMPS): A Pilot Study Investigating Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effect to Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Pain

Abstract

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety affects approximately 20% of women worldwide, contributing to complications of pregnancy, maternal and infant bonding, and childhood development. Alongside perinatal medical treatment, women seek massage therapy for relaxation, emotional support, and pain management, but may be limited by social and financial constraints. In prior studies, partners of pregnant women were taught a side-lying massage and demonstrated improvements to mood, anxiety, and pain. Objectives: The purpose of CHAMPs was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of a partner delivered chair-massage on primary outcomes to perinatal mood and anxiety, and secondary outcomes to pain. Design: CHAMPs was a pilot study with a prospective design, investigating pre-post intervention outcomes of self-reported perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain collected through emailed questionnaires in a single group of participants. Recruitment was supported by the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition. Partners of pregnant women were taught a 10-minute chair-massage and instructed to provide at home, bi-weekly for eight weeks. Massage dose and frequency data were collected weekly through text messaging over the 8-week study period. Follow-up surveys were e-mailed one and three months post intervention with birth outcomes acquired later through text messaging. Methods: CHAMPs evaluation used validated questionnaires tracking pre-post study effects to perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain. A project specific questionnaire evaluated feasibility and acceptability by the couples. Follow-up surveys documented the sustainability of massage over time. Descriptive statistics described the results of the baseline participant data, responses to the project specific questionnaire, chair-massage frequency and dose, follow up surveys, and birth outcomes. Paired-sample t-tests analyzed the significance of pre-post study effects of partner delivered chair-massage to mood, anxiety, and pain. Independent samples t-tests analyzed differences to health effects based on training location. Results: Twelve pregnant women (aged 32 years + 3.86 SD) and their partners from Tucson, AZ completed CHAMPs. Rates of retention (86%) and protocol compliance (94%) were high, with couples averaging 10-minute, bi-weekly chair-massage throughout the eight-week period of study. The couples reported satisfaction with study participation (97%) and agreed chair-massage was a valuable and practical skill to have in managing perinatal health (100%). The women perceived partner chair-massage as most beneficial to perinatal mood and anxiety (92%) compared to pain (83%) and their partners reported the protocol was easier to learn (92%) than apply (75%). All the couples perceived chair-massage sustainability would be at least weekly use in the future. Analyses of results indicated statistically significant improvements to perinatal mood (p=.012) and anxiety (p=.004), while a trend was observed for reduced pain (.071). Follow-up surveys confirmed most couples were sustaining at least weekly massage as perceived (92%). Birth outcomes revealed healthy infants with no complications, mean birth weight of 7.26 pounds, and mean gestation of 39 weeks. Conclusions: CHAMPs presents the first evidence of partner delivered chair-massage as safe and effective complementary home management of perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain.