The Effect of Abdominal Massage with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil on Constipation among Elderly Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Analysis of the efficacy of abdominal massage on functional constipation: A meta-analysis

Background

Constipation is a digestive disorder with a high global prevalence, with approximately 20-25% of the population suffering from constipation, and the majority of constipated patients experience functional constipation (FC). Although abdominal massage is an effective intervention, there is a lack of analysis of the efficacy of abdominal massage in the treatment of functional constipation. Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of abdominal massage in the treatment of functional constipation.

Methods

A computerized retrieval of randomized controlled trials on abdominal massage for functional constipation was conducted on China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, Cochrane Database, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until October 1, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software after the initial screening and re-screening of the literature.

Results

A total of 13 papers involving 830 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that abdominal massage had better efficacy in the treatment of functional constipation. Constipated patients in the treatment group showed greater improvement in the frequency of defecation, difficulty in defecation, stool properties, and PAC-QOL scores than those in the control group. The SMD/MD values and 95% CI of each score were: SMD = 1.05, 95%CI (0.63,1.46); SMD = -1.51, 95%CI (-2.35,-0.68); SMD = 0.95, 95%CI (0.31,1.59); MD = -13.24, 95%CI (-25.83, -0.65).

Conclusion

Abdominal massage can increase the frequency of defecation, reduce the symptoms of difficulty in defecation, improve stool properties, and positively affect the quality of life of patients with constipation. Hence, abdominal massage therapy shows definite therapeutic efficacy for functional constipation, providing a more specific plan for clinical treatment.

Comparison of the Effects of Abdominal Massage and Oral Administration of Sweet Almond Oil on Constipation and Quality of Life among Elderly Individuals: A Single-Blind Clinical Trial

Background. Constipation is a common digestive disorder in the elderly population, which has a considerable impact on various aspects of their lives. Traditional and complementary medicines are two common treatments for constipation. This study was aimed at comparing the effects of abdominal massage and oral administration of sweet almond oil on constipation and quality of life among elderly people. Methods. In this single-blind study, 90 eligible elderly people were randomly selected according to ROME IV diagnostic criteria from October 2020 to May 2021 and were divided into three groups using block randomization ( $n=30$ ). In the oral consumption group, 126 ml sweet almond oil was administered during seven sessions held over two weeks (18 ml every other day). The abdominal massage group was provided with abdominal massage with the same amount of sweet almond oil during seven sessions in two weeks. Finally, the third group (i.e., the control group) received no interventions. Constipation was measured using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) at baseline and on the 15th day of the intervention. Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) was also applied before and after the intervention (day 15). The data were entered in to the SPSS 22 software and were analyzed using chi-square $t$ -test, paired $t$ -test, independent $t$ -test, and ANOVA. $p\le 0.05$ was considered statistically significant. Results. The results revealed a significant decrease in the CAS score in the oral consumption group (i.e., oral administration of sweet almond oil; from $7.81\pm 2.62$ to $1.15\pm 1.08$ , $p<0.0003$ ) compared to the abdominal massage group (i.e., abdominal massage; from $8\pm 2.57$ to $2.26\pm 1.81$ , $p<0.0002$ ) and the control group (from $7.73\pm 2.53$ to $6\pm 2.74$ , $p<0.0002$ ). Additionally, the stool consistency score in BSFS was significantly higher in the oral consumption group in comparison to the two other groups ( $p<0.0003$ ) before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the quality of life score decreased more significantly in the oral consumption group (from $75.04\pm 7.66$ to $28.15\pm 3.30$ , $p<0.0003$ ) than in the abdominal massage group (from $81.15\pm 5.15$ to $43.26\pm 4.13$ , $p<0.0001$ ) and the control group (from $79.62\pm 4.76$ to $62.31\pm 6.40$ , $p<0.0008$ ). Conclusion. Since the oral administration of sweet almond oil and abdominal massage was highly influential in the participants’ constipation scores and quality of life, these cost-effective methods with low complication rates are recommended to be used alongside other treatments in managing constipation among older adults.