Using massage to ease constipation.
Study Goal
To determine whether abdominal massage is an effective treatment for constipation when used alongside prescribed laxatives.
Results Summary
Abdominal massage combined with laxatives reduced abdominal pain, increased bowel movements, and improved quality of life compared to laxatives alone. Patients reported positive experiences, though massage did not reduce laxative use.
Population
60 people with constipation.
Effective Dosage
15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage per day, five days a week.
Duration
Eight weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
abdominal massage used with laxatives | decrease | abdominal pain | people with constipation | - | reduced | #1 |
abdominal massage used with laxatives | increase | bowel movements | people with constipation | - | increased | #2 |
abdominal massage used with laxatives | increase | quality of life | people with constipation | - | improved | #3 |
abdominal massage | no change | laxative use | patients | - | did not reduce | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Constipation is a painful and serious condition that patients often find difficult to talk about. It is usually treated with laxatives alone. AIM: To determine whether abdominal massage is an effective treatment for constipation. METHOD Of 60 people with constipation, half received 15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage a day, five days a week, for eight weeks, as well as prescribed laxatives. The rest received prescribed laxatives only. Interviews with participants were also conducted. RESULTS: Abdominal massage used with laxatives reduced abdominal pain, increased bowel movements and improved quality of life compared with laxative use alone. Patients reported positive experiences of abdominal massage but it did not reduce their laxative use. CONCLUSION: Abdominal massage was seen as a pleasant treatment that can be offered as an option in constipation management.