Scientific Evidence-based Effects of Abdominal Massage in People with Constipation: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Constipation is globally a predominant problem leading to physical, mental, and emotional disturbances. Recently, many non-pharmacological therapies have been reviewed for the management of constipation. In this review, we intended to understand the effect of abdominal massage in alleviating and improving various symptoms of constipation among different populations with regard to simplicity, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. We performed a PubMed and PubMed Central search to review relevant articles; 246 were screened, and 33 potentially eligible articles were recognized and incorporated in this review. Available literature suggests that abdominal massage effectively reduces the severity of constipation in the adult and elderly population and disorders of the gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and palliative care. Based on the available literature, this review suggests that the abdominal massage has a scientific evidence-based effect in reducing constipation.