Integrated breast massage versus traditional breast massage for treatment of plugged milk duct in lactating women: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effectiveness of integrated breast massage (IBM) versus traditional breast massage (TBM) in resolving plugged milk ducts, assessing resolution time, mass size reduction, and pain scores.
Results Summary
The IBM technique resolved plugged milk ducts significantly faster, with less pain, and greater mass size reduction after the first session compared to TBM. Both groups showed improvement, but IBM demonstrated superior outcomes.
Population
Women presenting with acute plugged milk ducts at a lactation clinic in Thailand.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (massage techniques compared, but exact frequency/duration per session not detailed).
Duration
Study conducted from February 2019 to July 2020 (individual intervention duration not specified).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
integrated breast massage (IBM) | decrease | resolution time | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | - | resolved plugged milk duct significantly faster | #1 |
integrated breast massage (IBM) | decrease | pain score | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | - | with significantly less pain | #2 |
integrated breast massage (IBM) | decrease | mass size | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | - | with significantly greater reduction in mass size after the first massage | #3 |
integrated breast massage (IBM) | neutral | mass size | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | 30 (20-48) cm² | median (IQR) mass size was 30 (20-48) cm² | #4 |
traditional breast massage (TBM) | neutral | mass size | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | 20 (12-14) cm² | median (IQR) mass size was 20 (12-14) cm² | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Plugged milk duct during lactation is a common problem in breastfeeding. Traditional breast massage (TBM) has been performed in Thailand with reasonable outcomes, but several follow-up sessions are often required. A new massage technique, the integrated breast massage (IBM), was subsequently developed. This study aimed to compare resolution time, reduction in mass size, and pain score after breast massage between the IBM and TBM techniques. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Lactation Clinic of the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand during February 2019-July 2020. Women presenting with acute plugged milk duct were enrolled and randomly allocated to the IBM or TBM/control groups. Mass size in square centimeters (cm RESULTS: Eighty-four women (42 per group) were included. All enrolled study participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. Twenty-six (61.9%) and 25 (59.5%) participants from IBM and TBM, respectively, had mass diameter > 5 cm. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) mass size was 30 (20-48) and 20 (12-14) cm CONCLUSIONS: The IBM technique resolved plugged milk duct significantly faster, with significantly less pain, and with significantly greater reduction in mass size after the first massage compared to TBM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry on 25 September 2019 ( TCTR20190925001 ).