Effect of Mechanical Massage Cushion on Labor Pain and Comfort

Effect of Mechanical Massage Cushion on Labor Pain and Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was conducted to examine the effect of mechanical massage applied with a mechanical massage cushion during labor on labor pain and comfort.

This research is a randomized controlled experimental study. The universe of the study consisted of primiparous women who gave birth normally in a state hospital between November 2021 and February 2022, and the sample consisted of 70 pregnant women (35 pregnant women in the experimental group and 35 pregnant women in the control group) who met the selection criteria. Data were collected face-to-face with the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Verbal Category Scale (VCS), and Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ). Data were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 package program.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Labor Pain; Pregnant Women; Massage; Labor and Delivery; Labor Comfort
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: massage

Detailed Description

Massage applied during birth provides relaxation to the pregnant woman, reduces pain, anxiety, agitation, and depressive mood, relaxes muscle spasms, and reduces the duration of birth and hospital stay. There are a limited number of studies in the literature on mechanical massage during birth. This study was conducted to examine the effect of mechanical massage applied with a mechanical massage cushion during labor on labor pain and comfort.

This research is a randomized controlled experimental study. The universe of the study consisted of primiparous women who gave birth normally in a state hospital between November 2021 and February 2022, and the sample consisted of 70 pregnant women (35 pregnant women in the experimental group and 35 pregnant women in the control group) who met the selection criteria. Data were collected face-to-face with the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Verbal Category Scale (VCS), and Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ). Data were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 package program. The normal distribution of the data was evaluated using the number, percentage, mean, chi-square, and t-test.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Mersin, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Tarsus University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least a primary school graduate, no communication problems, healthy at term pregnancies, primiparous pregnants, in the latent phase of labor (cervical dilation 0-3 cm).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Foreign pregnant women, multiparous pregnants, pregnant women who dropped out of the study, pregnant women who experienced complications and required a cesarean section, pregnant women who were admitted to the delivery room while using an automatic massage cushion on another pregnant woman.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: massage; During the active phase, the pregnant woman was asked to manage the mechanical massage cushion and massage the desired areas at the desired intensity until the end of the phase. Pain scales (VAS, VCS) were administered to the pregnant women at the end of the latent (when cervical dilation is 3 cm) and active phases (when cervical dilation is 8 cm). The Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire was administered at the end of the first hour after birth.	Other: massage; The mechanical massage cushion was introduced to the pregnant woman and its use was explained. In addition to routine hospital procedures, during the latent phase, a custom-made bed protector and towel were placed on the mechanical massage cushion, and the researcher accompanied the pregnant woman during the first massage application. The bed protector and towel were changed as needed when soiled. During the active phase, the pregnant woman was asked to manage the mechanical massage cushion and massage the desired areas at the desired intensity until the end of the phase. Pain scales (VAS, VCS) were administered to the pregnant women at the end of the latent (when cervical dilation is 3 cm) and active phases (when cervical dilation is 8 cm). The Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire was administered at the end of the first hour after birth.
No Intervention: control; Standard care was applied to the control group. Pain scales (VAS, VCS) were administered to the pregnant women at the end of the latent (when cervical dilation is 3 cm) and active phases (when cervical dilation is 8 cm). The Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire was administered at the end of the first hour after birth.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of childbirth comfort	Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ): The scale was developed by Schuiling in 2003. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were examined by Coskuner et al. in 2015. The scale is a 5-point Likert-type instrument, consisting of 9 items and 3 sub-dimensions. The minimum score is 9 and the maximum score is 45. A high score indicates high comfort.	The Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire was administered at the end of the first hour after birth.
Assessment of labor pain	Visual Analog Scale (VAS): It is a scale where painlessness and unbearable pain are indicated on a 10 cm ruler, and the individual marks the pain they perceive. When evaluating the scale, the distance between the beginning and the marked part is measured with the ruler and the distances are determined as 0-2 cm; 3-4 cm; 5-6 cm; 7-8 cm and 9-10 cm and should be interpreted as no pain; mild pain, moderate pain; severe pain and unbearable pain, respectively.	VAS was administered to the pregnant women at the end of the latent (when cervical dilation is 3 cm) and active phases (when cervical dilation is 8 cm).
Assessment of labor pain	Verbal Category Scale (VCS): It is a one-dimensional scale that defines the severity of pain. Pain is divided into categories from mild to unbearable. The individual marks the part of the scale that corresponds to their pain.	VCS was administered to the pregnant women at the end of the latent (when cervical dilation is 3 cm) and active phases (when cervical dilation is 8 cm).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Tarsus University
• Collaborators: Ataturk University
• Investigators: Study Director: Hava Özkan, PhD, Prof. Dr.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jones L, Othman M, Dowswell T, Alfirevic Z, Gates S, Newburn M, Jordan S, Lavender T, Neilson JP. Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Mar 14;2012(3):CD009234. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009234.pub2.
• Poppendieck W, Wegmann M, Ferrauti A, Kellmann M, Pfeiffer M, Meyer T. Massage and Performance Recovery: A Meta-Analytical Review. Sports Med. 2016 Feb;46(2):183-204. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0420-x.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 28, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 28, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pregnant; Labor; massage; labor pain; labor comfort
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Labor Pain; Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Massage
• Other Study ID Numbers: Tarsus University; Project number 10119 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Atatürk University Scientific Research Projects Office)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: We obtained permission from the participants by stating that we would only use their data in this study; I do not find it ethical to use or share it in another study.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No