Constipation May Be Improved by Self-Applied Acupressure

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Constipation May Be Improved by Self-Applied Acupressure

Applying external pressure to the perineum in conjunction with standard constipation treatment can improve bowel function and quality of life for people suffering from the common digestive condition, a study has shown.

In a randomized trial of 91 patients, the self-acupressure technique improved constipation symptoms at 4 weeks in 72% of the patients randomly assigned to the treatment, Ryan Abbott, MD, MTOM, from the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues report in an article published online November 18 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The findings suggest that education in perineal self-acupressure should be a component of first-line constipation treatment, the authors write. 
The noninvasive, nonpharmacologic intervention carries a lower risk for adverse effects and complications than common medications, and it may help control the significant healthcare costs associated with the condition, they write, noting that “U.S. hospital costs alone associated with constipation were estimated at over $4.25 billion in 2012.”

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