Evaluating the Effectiveness of Complementary Health Therapies in Labor Pain Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
ANS Adv Nurs SciJun 17, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchObstetrics & Gynecology
Yea-Jyh Chen, Richard S Pond, Joeliene Ray DeVries et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of complementary health therapies in reducing labor pain across 29 randomized controlled trials involving 3,774 participants. The analysis found that these therapies significantly reduced labor pain with a standardized mean difference of d = -1.16, although no single therapy was deemed the most effective.
Key findings
- Complementary health therapies significantly reduced labor pain with a standardized mean difference of d = -1.16.
- Massage and acupressure were the most frequently utilized therapies in the studies reviewed.
- The review included data from 29 randomized controlled trials conducted between 2020 and 2023.
- Findings highlight the potential for nonpharmacological approaches in labor pain management.
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness of complementary health therapies can enhance labor pain management strategies, offering women more options for individualized and culturally responsive care during childbirth.
What to keep in mind
The findings should account for heterogeneity and potential publication bias.