title: Improving slow-transit constipation with transcutaneous electrical stimulation in women: A randomized, comparative study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) in women with slow-transit constipation. Twenty-eight women with slow-transit constipation were randomly assigned to a treatment group (14 women) or a control group (14 women). Data collection was conducted from March 7, 2014 to May 2, 2014. TES and sham TES were performed for 20 minutes, three times per week, for 4 weeks for the treatment and control groups, respectively. The results of the tests before and after treatment, including the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS), abdominal pain, and number of defecations per week, were assessed. A significant decrease in CAS score and in abdominal pain (p < .05), and a significant increase in evacuation frequency per week (p < .05) were observed in the treatment group. In addition, a significant decrease in CAS score and in abdominal pain (p < .05) was observed in the control group. However, no noticeable change was observed in evacuation frequency per week in the control group. Based on these results, TES may have a beneficial effect in women with slow-transit constipation, and could be used to reduce the symptoms of constipation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , The Graduate School of Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.
authors.forename: Youjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Therapy , Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.
authors.forename: Jongeun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , The Graduate School of Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.|c Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Physical Therapy , Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.
authors.forename: Wonjae
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Therapy , Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.|c Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Physical Therapy , Sahmyook University , Seoul , South Korea.
authors.forename: Seungwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D003248:Constipation / Q000628:therapy*; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Abdominal pain; constipation; transcutaneous electrical stimulation; women