The Effects of Abdominal Massage on Functional (Primary) Chronic Constipation
The Effects of Abdominal Massage on Functional (Primary) Chronic Constipation
The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of abdominal massage in patients
 with functional (primary) chronic constipation. The present study is designed as a randomized
 placebo controlled. Since the placebo group is included in the research design, if there is a
 greater improvement of symptoms of constipation and quality of life in the massage group when
 compared to the control group, it will be determined that this effect is not related to a
 placebo effect. If the efficacy of Abdominal Massage is revealed with a placebo controlled
 design, the therapist effect will be eliminated and further evidence on a well-known massage
 technique in functional (primary) chronic constipation, a common gastrointestinal problem,
 will be provided. The results of the present placebo controlled randomized trial will
 indicate that the need for pharmacological agents and the side effects associated with these
 agents will be reduced. According to the literature, there are studies that investigate the
 effects of abdominal massage on symptoms of constipation and quality of life. However, it has
 generally been used for secondary constipation or two applications have been compared. In
 addition, there is no randomized placebo-controlled study investigating the effect of
 abdominal massage on severity of chronic constipation and quality of life.
Constipation is a subjective symptom that defines as inadequate defecation including several
 symptoms as follows: the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, hard stool, straining, and
 difficulty in defecation. The general prevalence of constipation in adults is 16%. The
 pre-defined risk factors are women gender, advanced age, non-white ethnicity, low
 socio-economic level, decreased physical activity underlying diseases, and medications.
 Chronic constipation affects quality of life and causes problems such as anxiety, depression,
 somatization, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunctions, school/work absenteeism. In the following
 periods, it causes serious comorbidities including dyspnea, gastro-esophageal reflux,
 hypertension, thyroid diseases, vaginitis, dyspareunia, diabetes, and fibromyalgia.

 In the treatment of chronic constipation, conservative approaches (lifestyle change and
 physiotherapy applications) are used at the first phase. If conservative approaches are not
 helpful for patients pharmacological and surgical treatment can be performed based on the
 characteristics of patients, respectively. Pharmacological treatments aim to increase the
 frequency of spontaneous bowel movements, to reduce abdominal pain and swelling, and to
 improve stool consistency. However, side effects such as abdominal bloating, abdominal
 cramping, abdominal pain, stomach gas, nausea, diarrhea, headache and dyspnea are reported by
 patients in the following period. Furthermore, medications for constipation management are
 not cost-effective. Therefore, the level of evidence on conservative approaches with low
 cost, non-invasive and no-side effects in constipation treatment should be increased.

 Physiotherapy approaches to alleviate chronic constipation symptoms include such as
 defecation training, abdominal massage, connective tissue massage, electrical stimulation,
 Kinesio-taping, anorectal biofeedback, and exercise training. Abdominal massage application
 in constipation is used in constipation management since the early 1870s and it is popular in
 recent years. The benefits of abdominal massage are known as follows: reduction in the
 abdominal muscle tension, improvement of local circulation, and stimulation of peristaltic
 movements. The technique of abdominal massage consists of 5 stages as follows: abdominal
 muscle stroking, colon stroking, colon kneading, colon stroking, and abdominal muscle
 stroking.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age between 18 and 65 years.

 -  Diagnosed with chronic constipation according to Rome IV criteria

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  A recent history of abdominal surgery

 -  Intestinal obstruction, ileus, colon cancer

 -  Enteric neuropathic patients: Diabetic intestinal neuropathy, Hirschsprung's disease,
 Megacolon, Megarectum

 -  Umbilical hernia

 -  Metabolic diseases: Cancer, Chronic renal failure, Severe cardiovascular disease,
 Hepatic failure, Hepatosplenomegaly, Abdominal aortic aneurysm

 -  Neurological diseases: Parkinson, Spinal cord injury, Multiple sclerosis,
 Cerebro-vascular event,

 -  Paraplegia Mental problem to prevent co-operative treatment

 -  Pregnancy and lactation