Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Try Biofeedback Instead
If modifications in your diet and laxatives don't work, you might try biofeedback for constipation.
Nearly everyone has had a bout of constipation -- infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stool -- at some point in their life. Constipation is not a disease but rather a symptom that can stem from a number of medical conditions. Constipation becomes more common with age and occurs in at least 25% of people over age 65. In most cases, constipation is not a serious condition and can be treated with lifestyle measures, such as increasing your intake of dietary fiber and level of physical activity or taking a laxative. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms.
Now a study reported in the journal Gastroenterology (Volume 130, page 657 ) finds that biofeedback can be a much more effective and longer-lasting treatment than laxatives for a certain type of constipation.
Researchers studied constipation caused by pelvic floor dyssynergia -- the inability to relax the pelvic floor muscles while trying to pass stool. Fifty-four people with the condition attended five weekly 30-minute biofeedback sessions in which they were taught to strain more effectively, coordinate their breathing, and identify and relax their pelvic floor muscles. A control group of 55 people with pelvic floor dyssynergia took laxatives and attended five weekly counseling sessions on preventing constipation. Six months later, 80% of the biofeedback group reported that their constipation had improved, compared with 22% of the laxative group. People in the biofeedback group also reported less straining, abdominal pain, and laxative use. Two years later, the improvements in the biofeedback group were still present.
This type of biofeedback has not been shown effective for people with constipation caused by other factors. It’s also more expensive and less readily available than laxatives. But for people with pelvic floor dyssynergia, biofeedback may be worth pursuing.
Posted in Digestive Health on October 1, 2007
Reviewed September 2011
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Over several decades of eating high-fibre foods I have noticed that Romaine Lettuce is particularly good. It is superior to other lettuce (e.g. Iceberg, Boston) and I have benefitted noticeably since ensuring that a Caesar Salad is a daily habit.
Posted by: George Myles | October 6, 2007 3:40 PM