Abstract
Objective and rationale:
To report the effect of weekly chiropractic adjustments on a patient with reported chronic constipation.
Design architecture:
case report.
Outcome measures:
The outcome measures assessed were a reduction in the diagnostic criteria of constipation, the patient's overall sense of well being rated on a Global Well-Being Scale and the frequency of low back pain.
Method:
The patient completed all required intake forms according to the H.K. Lee Outpatient clinic protocol at CMCC, and a questionnaire regarding bowel habits. A senior intern performed a complete history and spinal examination and the patient was treated for two months. Throughout the two months the patient completed the bowel habit questionnaire at each visit and at a follow up appointment one month later.
Results:
Results support a decline in constipation according to the requisite criteria, resolution of low back pain, and a Global Well-Being scale score of over 9/10.
Conclusion:
It appears that chiropractic treatment may have a role in the improvement of chronic constipation.
Keywords: constipation, treatment
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Browning S. M. Constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Prim Care. 1999 Mar;26(1):113–139. doi: 10.1016/s0095-4543(05)70105-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Budgell B. S. Reflex effects of subluxation: the autonomic nervous system. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 Feb;23(2):104–106. doi: 10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90076-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans J. M., Fleming K. C., Talley N. J., Schleck C. D., Zinsmeister A. R., Melton L. J., 3rd Relation of colonic transit to functional bowel disease in older people: a population-based study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Jan;46(1):83–87. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb01018.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Glia A., Lindberg G., Nilsson L. H., Mihocsa L., Akerlund J. E. Constipation assessed on the basis of colorectal physiology. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1998 Dec;33(12):1273–1279. doi: 10.1080/00365529850172359. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jørgensen L. S., Fossgreen J. Back pain and spinal pathology in patients with functional upper abdominal pain. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1990 Dec;25(12):1235–1241. doi: 10.3109/00365529008998559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Korr I. M. The spinal cord as organizer of disease processes: some preliminary perspectives. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1976 Sep;76(1):35–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Meshkinpour H., Selod S., Movahedi H., Nami N., James N., Wilson A. Effects of regular exercise in management of chronic idiopathic constipation. Dig Dis Sci. 1998 Nov;43(11):2379–2383. doi: 10.1023/a:1026609610466. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Orr W. C., Johnson P., Yates C. Chronic constipation: a clinical conundrum. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997 May;45(5):652–653. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb03107.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sato A. Somatovisceral reflexes. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995 Nov-Dec;18(9):597–602. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sato A. The reflex effects of spinal somatic nerve stimulation on visceral function. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992 Jan;15(1):57–61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schaefer D. C., Cheskin L. J. Constipation in the elderly. Am Fam Physician. 1998 Sep 15;58(4):907–914. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tramonte S. M., Brand M. B., Mulrow C. D., Amato M. G., O'Keefe M. E., Ramirez G. The treatment of chronic constipation in adults. A systematic review. J Gen Intern Med. 1997 Jan;12(1):15–24. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.12103.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]