The effect of Osteopathic Treatment on Chronic Constipation – A Pilot Study☆
Received 19 November 2008; received in revised form 7 August 2009; accepted 20 October 2009. published online 16 February 2010.
Abstract
Background
Conventional medical treatment for constipation typically consists of dietary modification, increased fluid intake and exercise frequency, but many people do not respond to these interventions. Osteopathic treatment is claimed to restore normal function to the digestive system and related somatic structures and may provide an effective treatment for constipation.
Objective
To examine the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment for people with chronic constipation over a four week period.
Methods
Six participants (mean age 48.5±14.1 years) with chronic constipation were treated utilising a semi-standardised osteopathic treatment. Each participant was examined and treated six times over four weeks. Treatment outcomes were measured pre-treatment, during and one week following the treatment period using validated outcome measures specific to bowel function.
Results
Following treatment there was a significant improvement in the severity of their constipation (p<0.01), overall symptom improvement (p<0.01), improved colonic transit times (p<0.01) and overall quality of life (p<0.01).
Conclusion
Participants reported an improvement in the overall severity of constipation, symptoms and quality of life. Further investigation of osteopathic treatment of constipation is recommended using larger sample sizes and a randomized controlled design.
aOsteopathic Medicine Unit, School of Biomedical & Health Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, PO Box 14428 Melbourne VIC 8001, Australia
bA.T. Still Research Institute, ATSU, Kirksville, MO, USA
Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 9919 1043.
☆ Author contribution statement: KF conceived the idea for the study. RB, GF and KF contributed to the design and planning of the research. All authors were involved in data collection. RB and KF analysed the data. RB, GF and KF wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors edited and approved the final version of the manuscript.
ABSTRACT