The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Gastrointestinal Functions: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: abdominal massage with regular and rhythmic movements has been used to treat some symptoms of diseases.

Objectives: to review data collected from randomized controlled trials regarding the effect of abdominal massage (AM) on gastrointestinal functions (GFs).

Methods: we conducted a systematic review of articles accessible through PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. All eligible English RCT- published articles related to the effect of AM on GFs were included in the study from the time of their acceptance until June 2019.

Results: ten studies with 464 patients met the inclusion criteria. Three studies reported that AM alleviated constipation symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis, cancer, and elderly adults. In three studies, AM increased bowel movements in people with constipation and patients undergoing skeletal traction. The results of three studies conducted on intensive care patients showed that AM improved GFs, and decreased abdominal circumference and distension. Two studies showed the effectiveness of AM in reducing the gastric residual volume. However, one study indicated no significant difference between the intervention and control groups. The results of two studies showed that AM did not affect laxative intake, nausea or vomiting, frequency of defecation, and food intake. Furthermore, AM did not decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The studies reported no adverse effects of AM.

Conclusions: there was promising evidence for the effect of AM on GFs. However, further studies are needed to measure the unknown dimensions of AM in patients.

Keywords: abdominal massage; constipation; gastrointestinal function; massage; systematic review.