Biofeedback Helpful in Treating Constipation

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Biofeedback training appears useful in improving the symptoms of constipation due to difficulty in evacuating the rectum, according to Italian and US researchers.

This type of constipation, called outlet dysfunction-type, occurs when patients can't relax their pelvic floor muscles. Patients with outlet dysfunction-type constipation that does not respond to other treatments "may be successfully treated by biofeedback therapy," lead investigator Dr. Giuseppe Chiarioni of the University of Verona told Reuters Health.

In their study, published in the medical journal Gastroenterology, Chiarioni and colleagues evaluated the effects of biofeedback 52 patients who had delayed whole gut transit.

Of these patients, 34 subjects had difficulty relaxing their pelvic floor muscles, 12 had slow transit only and 6 could not be classified into either group. All of the patients underwent five weekly biofeedback sessions to help them increase rectal pressure and relax their pelvic floor muscles during straining.

After 6 months, 71 percent of the patients with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction reported a satisfactory response and 76 percent reported three or more bowel movements per week. However, only 8 percent of the slow transit-only patients reported a good response.

Follow-up at 24 months showed that the improvements were maintained in the pelvic floor group.

"Our data suggest that, for outlet dysfunction constipation, at least, biofeedback does provide a specific benefit," the researchers conclude.

"Our study," Chiarioni added, "should prompt the development of teaching programs devoted to the training of skillful biofeedback therapists."

SOURCE: Gastroenterology, July 2005.