Abdominal Massage for Functional Constipation in Adults

Miriam Odurukwe; Gavriel Shimonov; Ashley Lovenduski; Danielle Carcia; Rebecca Shipkin

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FPIN's Help Desk Answers

Abdominal Massage for Functional Constipation in Adults

Miriam Odurukwe, MD, MPH

Gavriel Shimonov, MD

Ashley Lovenduski, DO

Danielle Carcia, DO

Rebecca Shipkin, MD, MPH

American Family Physician. 2026;113(1):87-88.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

MIRIAM ODURUKWE, MD, MPH; GAVRIEL SHIMONOV, MD; ASHLEY LOVENDUSKI, DO; DANIELLE CARCIA, DO; and REBECCA SHIPKIN, MD, MPH, Capital Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Trenton, New Jersey

Address correspondence to Rebecca Shipkin, MD, MPH, at rshipkin@capitalhealth.org.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

1.Doğan İG, Gürşen C, Akbayrak T, et al. Abdominal massage in functional chronic constipation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2022;102(7):pzac058.
2.Karaaslan Y, Karakus A, Koc DO, et al. Effectiveness of abdominal massage versus Kinesio taping in women with chronic constipation: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024;30(4):501-511.
3.Olgun S, Eser I. The effect of abdominal massage on chronic constipation and constipation quality of life in elderly: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Caring Sci. 2022;15(1):316-324.
4.Baran A, Ateş SA. The effects of abdominal massage in the management of constipation in elderly people: a randomized controlled study. Top Geriatr Rehabil. 2019;35(2):134-140.

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