Efficacy of Combined Interferential Therapy and Electronic Cupping Therapy for Chronic Constipation Management (Management)

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal issue affecting individuals worldwide. Interferential therapy, a form of electrotherapy, has been suggested to have potential benefits in improving gastrointestinal motility and relieving constipation symptoms. Introducing of a new method like electronic cupping therapy with interferential therapy may optimize the therapeutic outcomes by potentially increasing bowel movements and improving overall gastrointestinal function.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Constipation
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Aerobic exercise; Other: electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercise; Other: interferential therapy in addition to aerobic exercise; Other: interferential therapy, electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercises

Detailed Description

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a combined treatment regimen that includes interferential therapy and electronic cupping therapy on the symptoms of chronic constipation, as well as gastrointestinal health outcomes.

Methods: This study involved 110 patients with chronic constipation, consisting of 60 females and 50 males, ranging in age from 20 to 40 years. Each participant underwent evaluations using Abdominal Ultrasonography and a standardized constipation scoring system. All participants were allocated into three groups; Group (A) received interferential therapy with aerobic exercises, Group (B) received electronic cupping therapy and aerobic exercise in the form of treadmill exercise and stationary bicycle 3 sessions/week for four weeks, and Group (c) received interferential therapy, electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercises.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 110
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza
    • October city, Giza, Egypt, 6892
      • October 6 University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• history of Chronic Constipation (CC), as defined by either experiencing two or fewer Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBMs) per week for a minimum of 6 consecutive months before the screening visit
• Reporting a sensation of incomplete evacuation or straining during at least a quarter of their bowel movements (according to the generally accepted definition of constipation).
• Patients must have had CC persisting for more than 6 months, failed to respond to or be intolerant of medical treatment for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant or lactating women
• Chronic Constipation (CC) resulting from anorectal malformations such as colorectal or anal organic lesions, pelvic floor disorders requiring surgical intervention as determined by the investigator (such as rectal prolapse, rectocele, or enterocele)
• presence of implanted electronic devices like cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiac pumps, or spinal stimulators
• CC attributable to medications or neurologic, endocrine, or metabolic conditions
• prior history of partial colectomy; conditions like megacolon, megarectum, or colonic inertia
• skin abnormalities that hinder the placement of electrodes
• women lacking adequate contraception (hormonal or intrauterine device).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group (A); received aerobic exercises	Other: Aerobic exercise; Warm-up (5 minutes): Started with a 5-minute warm-up on the stationary bike at a low intensity to prepare the muscles for the workout. Interval Training (15 minutes): Alternated between 1 minute of high-intensity cycling (pedaling at a faster pace with higher resistance) and 2 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling (steady pace with moderate resistance). This interval was repeated for a total of 15 minutes. Hill Climbing (10 minutes): The resistance was increased on the stationary bike to simulate climbing a hill. Pedal at a slower pace but with higher resistance for 10 minutes to engage the muscles of legs and core. Cool Down (5 minutes): The stationary cycling session was finished with a 5-minute cool down at a low intensity to gradually lower the heart rate and avoid fatigue.; Other Names: Group (A)
Experimental: Group (B); received electronic cupping therapy	Other: electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercise; Four devices of electronic cupping therapy were equipped with 3.5-inch diameter cups (Becommend, model number: BE007, ASIN: B09PVF72RJ, China).
Experimental: Group (C); received interferential therapy	Other: interferential therapy in addition to aerobic exercise; interferential current (Endomed 482, SN/29.382, Netherlands) was delivered by the following parameters: a carrier frequency of 5-kHz, a beat frequency of 80-160 Hz, and an intensity level below 33 mA. Four carbon rubber electrodes (8x12 cm) were used and fixed by a large abdominal strap with a wet spongy
Experimental: Group (D)	Other: interferential therapy, electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercises; interferential therapy, electronic cupping therapy in addition to aerobic exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ultrasonography	Ultrasonography (M-Turbo, Sonosite, Bothell, WA, USA) was used to assess the large intestine during CC by using imaging technology that gave the healthcare professionals the ability to visualize the structure and function of the patients' bowel with a curved-array (2-5 MHz) probe.	6 weeks
Constipation scoring system.	A constipation scoring system was used to evaluate the severity of CC. It measures the frequency of the bowel movements, stool consistency, straining during defecation, and sensation of incomplete evacuation. It produces a numerical score ranging from 0 to 30, with 0 indicating no constipation and 30 indicating severe constipation	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Middle East University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 14, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): September 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 25, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Chronic Constipation; Interferential Therapy; Electronic Cupping Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Constipation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2513; middle east university (Other Identifier: middle east university)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No