The use of abdominal muscle training, breathing exercises and abdominal massage to treat pediatric chronic functional constipation.

AIM:
The effect of muscular training, abdominal massage and diaphragmatic breathing was compared with medical treatment in a prospective randomizedtrial of patients with chronic functional constipation.
METHOD:
Patients aged 4- 18 years old with functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria were randomized to physiotherapy or medical treatment. In the physiotherapy group, exercises (isometric training of the abdominal muscles, diaphragmatic breathing exercises and abdominal massage) were employed during 12 forty minute sessions, twice a week by a trained physiotherapist with laxatives. Patients in the medication group were only given laxatives.Primary outcome measures were frequency of defaecation and faecal incontinence. The analysis was performed by intention-to treat.
RESULTS:
After six weeks of treatment, the frequency of bowel movements was higher in the physiotherapy (5.1 [2.1] days/week) than in the medication group (3.9 [2.0] days/weeks;[p=0.01]) The frequency of faecal incontinence was no different between the groups (3.6[1.9] days/week v3.0[2.1] days/week; [p=0.31]).
CONCLUSION:
The combined use of isometric training of abdominal muscles, breathing exercises and abdominal massage increased defecation frequency after 6 weeks but faecal incontinence remained unchanged Physiotherapy may be a useful treatment for constipation © 2013 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2013 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.
© 2013 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2013 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.
PMID: 23375005