CLINICAL QUESTION

Is abdominal massage an effective treatment for functional constipation in adults?

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER

Abdominal massage can be used as a treatment for functional constipation in adults. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: B, small randomized controlled trials [RCTs].) Compared with patients in control groups, patients in massage groups demonstrate a 28% to 55% greater reduction in constipation severity using the Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI). (SOR: B, small RCTs.) Massage also results in an 18% to 27% greater improvement in constipation-associated quality of life, as measured by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL) questionnaire. (SOR: B, small RCTs.)

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

A 2022 RCT (N = 74) evaluated abdominal massage for functional constipation. Patients were younger than 65 years (mean age = 35 years) with constipation as defined by the Rome IV criteria. Exclusion criteria were concurrent severe illness, contraindications to massage such as open wounds or recent surgery, and regular use of medication or supplements that treated or induced constipation. Patients in the intervention group received 10-minute abdominal massages from experienced physical therapists three times weekly for 4 weeks. Patients in the comparison group received 15-minute placebo ultrasound therapy twice weekly for 4 weeks.¹