The purpose of this study is to examine if the use of reflexology can alleviate chronic constipation. The trial will last 26 week per patient, 2 week of screening period, 12 weeks of treatment and 12 weeks of follow up. Included in the study will be 40 men and women, 18 years of age or older, which are able to comply with the study guidelines; Fewer than three spontaneous bowel movement per week; and one or more of the following symptoms/signs during more than 25% of bowel movements for at least 12 weeks within the preceding 12 months: (1) straining, lumpy or (2) hard stools, and (3) a sensation of incomplete evacuation. Exclusion criteria are: Loose or watery stool in the absence of laxative use for more than 25% of bowel movements during the 12 weeks preceding the trials; Mushy stool defined as a score of 6 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale for any SBM during the baseline period; Rome III criteria for the irritable bowel syndrome; History of pelvic-floor dysfunction; Neurological pathologies; Psychiatric conditions; Chronic use of medication with a gastro intestinal-activity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Reflexology is a therapy whereby diagnosis and treatment are done on the patient's feet. According to reflexology, our feet are a micro-cosmos of our bodies and contain all the body's systems and internal organs. The treatment is palpation and massage of specific reflex points that respond to the body organs. This massage or palpitation of reflex points improves the physical function of the corresponding organ or system
The Center for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel
RECRUITINGChange in complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM)/week from baseline to 24 weeks
Will be assessed daily during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Increase of at least one CSBM per week from baseline for 9 or more weeks during the 24-week treatment period
Will be assessed weekly during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Stool frequency/Week (CSBMs and spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs)
Will be assessed weekly during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Stool consistency/week using the 7- point Bristol Stool Form Scale, during the 24 weeks of the study period
Will be assessed weekly during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Severity of straining using a 5-point ordinal scale (1 indicates not at all; 5 an extreme amount).
Will be assessed daily during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Abdominal discomfort, using a 5-point ordinal scale (1 indicates not at all; 5 an extreme amount)
Will be assessed daily during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Severity of bloating, using a 5-point ordinal scale (1 indicates not at all; 5 an extreme amount)
Will be assessed daily during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Constipation severity (using a 5-point ordinal scale, with higher scores indicating greater severity)
Will be assessed weekly during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Constipation relief (based on a 7-point balanced scale, with 1 indicating complete relief, 4 indicating no change, and 7 indicating very severe constipation)
Will be assessed weekly during the 24 weeks of the study
Time frame: 24 weeks
Satisfaction with the trial results, using a 5-point ordinal scale
will be assessed at the 12-week visit and at the 24-week visit (at the study end)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Health related quality of life (using the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life instrument (PAC-QOL)
will be assessed at baseline; at the 12-week visit and at the 24-week visit (at the study end)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Treatment side effects
Will be assessed at baseline, week 12 and week 24 (trial end)
Time frame: 24 weeks
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