The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation

The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment

This study aimed to determine the effect of abdominal massage on constipation in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The main questions he intends to answer are:

H0: Abdominal massage applied to patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment has no effect on constipation. H1: Abdominal massage applied to patients receiving hemodialysis treatment has an effect on constipation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Constipation; Hemodialysis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: abdominal massage

Detailed Description

Participants and Setting The study population consisted of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment at the Dialysis Units of Rize Training and Research Hospital and Rize State Hospital. A total of 50 patients who met the inclusion criteria and did not meet any exclusion criteria were included in the study.

Eligible patients (n = 50) were listed and randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 25) using a simple randomization method via a computer-based program (https://randomizer.org/). One patient in the intervention group died one month after the initiation of the study, and the intervention was discontinued for this patient. Consequently, the study was completed with 49 patients (intervention group, n = 24; control group, n = 25).

Intervention and Control Prior to the study, the researcher completed a structured training program consisting of 16 hours of theoretical education and 24 hours of practical training provided by the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Rize Training and Research Hospital. An official certificate confirming completion of this training was issued by the hospital administration.

Abdominal massage was administered to the intervention group during hemodialysis sessions in the dialysis units of the respective hospitals, without interrupting the treatment process. Patient privacy was ensured using a curtain before each session. Massage was applied at least 30 minutes after meals. Before each session, patients' general physical and mental condition, vital signs, abdominal tension/sensitivity, and skin integrity were assessed.

Abdominal massage was performed by the researcher twice weekly for six weeks, with each session lasting 15 minutes, for a total of 12 sessions. At the end of the sixth week, the effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, Constipation Severity Scale, and Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire, administered face-to-face by the researcher.

The control group did not receive abdominal massage and continued their routine treatment. In both groups, outcome measures were assessed at baseline (first week) and at the end of the study period (sixth week).

Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 26.0. Distribution characteristics were assessed using skewness and kurtosis values, all of which ranged between -2 and +2, indicating normal distribution. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, median, and standard deviation) were used. Independent t-tests were employed for between-group comparisons, paired t-tests for within-group comparisons, and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Parametric statistical methods were applied, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 49
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Trabzon
    • Trabzon, Trabzon, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Karadeniz Technical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 years or older
• Voluntarily agreed to participate in the study
• Receiving hemodialysis treatment for at least one month
• Diagnosed with constipation by a clinician or meeting Rome IV criteria
• Able to communicate effectively and respond to all study-related questions, either personally or through a caregiver

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of ileus or intestinal perforation
• Presence of abdominal distension
• Presence of a colostomy or ileostomy
• Presence of extensive abdominal skin disease or infection
• Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease
• Presence of signs or symptoms of an acute abdomen
• Presence of diarrhea
• Known allergy to baby oil
• Refusal to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: control group (n = 25); The control group did not receive abdominal massage and continued their routine treatment. In groups, outcome measures were assessed at baseline (first week) and at the end of the study period (sixth week). For evaluation Bristol Stool Form Scale, Constipation Severity Scale, and Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire, administered face-to-face by the researcher.
Experimental: intervention group (n = 24); One patient in the intervention group died one month after the initiation of the study, and the intervention was discontinued for this patient.Abdominal massage was administered to the intervention group during hemodialysis sessions in the dialysis units of the respective hospitals, without interrupting the treatment process. Patient privacy was ensured using a curtain before each session. Massage was applied at least 30 minutes after meals. Before each session, patients' general physical and mental condition, vital signs, abdominal tension/sensitivity, and skin integrity were assessed. Abdominal massage was performed by the researcher twice weekly for six weeks, with each session lasting 15 minutes, for a total of 12 sessions. At the end of the sixth week, the effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, Constipation Severity Scale, and Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire, administered face-to-face by the researcher.	Other: abdominal massage; Abdominal massage is considered a promising complementary approach for alleviating the symptoms of chronic constipation due to its noninvasive nature and relatively low cost. This intervention is thought to stimulate somato-autonomic reflexes and intestinal motility, thereby enhancing peristalsis and promoting contractions of the rectal muscles. Through massage application, bowel movements become more active. In addition, abdominal massage exerts effects on the abdominal muscles and the large intestine, and by stimulating the abdominal nerve plexus (splanchnic plexus), it alters intestinal tone. As a result of these mechanisms, constipation-related symptoms such as pain and discomfort are reduced.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Constipation Severity	change in constipation severity measured using the Constipation Severity Scale	baseline and end of week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Constipation-related Quality of Life	Change in quality of life measured using the Constipation Quality of Lise Questionnaire.	Baseline and end of week 6
Stool Consistency	Stool from assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale.	Baseline and end of week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Firat Tukenmez

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Related Info

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 2, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 20, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 9, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: abdominal massage
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Constipation
• Other Study ID Numbers: KTU-SBE-FT-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Confidentiality of the study Participant confidentiality was strictly maintained throughout the study. All personal and clinical data were anonymized by assigning unique identification codes to each participant, and no identifying information was included in the data collection forms or analysis. Study data were accessible only to the research team and were stored securely in accordance with institutional and ethical guidelines. The results were reported in aggregate form to ensure that individual participants could not be identified.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No