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Thu, 16 Apr
|WA 4.30pm, SA 6pm, AEST 6.30pm, NZ 8.30pm
April Journal Club
An RCT on abdominal massage, electrical stimulation and MLD in functional constipation. The authors claim that the MLD group had 'greater improvements' than the massage or electrostimulation groups, but what did they measure and are the results valid?
Date & Timezones
16 Apr 2026, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm ACST
WA 4.30pm, SA 6pm, AEST 6.30pm, NZ 8.30pm
Therapists
Goolge Meet Instructions
Comparisons between Manual Lymph Drainage, Abdominal Massage, and Electrical Stimulation on Functional Constipation Outcomes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Drouin, J. S., Pfalzer, L., Shim, J. M., & Kim, S. J. (2020). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 3924
Abstract
Background: Evidence supports abdominal massage (AM) or electrical stimulation (ES) as effective in treating functional constipation (FC). Manual lymph drainage (MLD) may also be beneficial, however, it was not previously investigated or compared to ES and AM. Methods: Sixteen college-aged males and 36 females were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to MLD, AM or ES. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures for total power (TP), high frequency (HF), low frequency and LF/HF ratio assessed ANS outcomes. state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and stress response inventory (SRI) assessed psychological factors and bowel movement frequency (BMF) and duration (BMD) were recorded daily. Results: MLD significantly improved all ANS measures (p≤0.01); AM significantly…