Tactile/kinesthetic Stimulus Program

Tactile/kinesthetic stimulation is performed in three stages. In the first stage; for tactile stimulation; The baby is placed in the prone (prone) position in the incubator. Light massage was applied in the head, shoulder, back, legs and arms of the infants. Each massage is applied 12 times for 1 minute. Massage was performed for 5 seconds. In the second stage Kinesthetic stimulation, including elbow flexion-extension movement, palm massages, flexion-extension of the knees and legs and plantar massages, was applied while the neonate was in supine position. Each kinesthetic stimulation was performed for 5 seconds. Each movement was repeated six times, with a total duration of 5 minutes. Tactile stimulation was repeated once after kinesthetic stimulation. The total duration of TKS was 15 minutes which was performed three times daily preferably between breastfeeding or bottle feeding for 14 consecutive days.