The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation inInstitutionalized Elderly

This study aims to investigate the effects of abdominal massage on constipation in institutionalized elderly. A randomized cross-over design including 15 participants was conducted in M city on 2008. The sample group received abdominal massage program. Abdominal massage was performed as 10-minutes per day, 6 days per week, for 2 weeks. Data was collected and assessed 4 times about frequencies of bowel movements per week, stool consistency, degree of difficulty with defecation, and time required for defecation; a week before the experiment, the first week and the second week for experiment and a week after the experiment. The statistical methods included Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test and paired t-test using SPSS 13.0. Frequencies of bowel movements per week, degree of difficulty with defecation, and time required for defecation were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group. The results of this small study suggest a positive effects of the relieving constipation of the institutionlized elderly.