Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSConstipation alleviated by abdominal massage
Abdominal massage can have a significant beneficial effect on quality of life in people with long term constipation, according to Swedish researchers.
They randomized 60 patients to using either laxatives alone or with abdominal massage as well. The authors said assessment showed quality of life significantly increased after eight weeks of abdominal massage, given either by a nurse or by the patient themselves.
“Abdominal massage may be cost-effective in the long-term and it is relevant to consider it when managing constipation,” said the researchers.
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Readers' comments (4)
Anonymous | 8-Aug-2010 5:59 am
nothing new here being doing this and encouraging my patients to do this since oooohh let me think the 70's
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kathleen white | 8-Aug-2010 9:45 am
Many nurses now have complementary therapies qualifications. Reflexology and abdominal massage has excellent beneficial effects on chronic constipation. The NHS does not refer many patients to complementary therapists, preferring to spend precious funds on medication that can in fact prolong the condition.
Hopefully the NHS will heed the Swedish research.
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Anonymous | 8-Aug-2010 8:27 pm
Nothing new. I'm in my 40's and as a child if we were constipated. My Mother always rubbed/massaged our tummies, this was advocated by my Grandfather who is 90. I continued this with my children & myself as I suffer with IBS. It's great but why tell us things we already know. If my family do it,probably the majority do as it makes sense. Also its been used in Learning Disability for years.
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Peter Goble | 14-Aug-2010 10:41 pm
Don't be a ninny as well as anonymous you two! Any fule no and every meercat no that evidence-based belly massage is much much better than not-evidence-based belly massage. Tch!!
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