COMBINED EXERCISE AND MASSAGE PROGRAM IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION (FC-EXMASS)

Zeynep Idil Sevimli

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Functional Constipation (FC)

Treatments: Other: Stretching, Strengthening, and Stabilization Exercises; Other: Abdominal Massage (I Love You Technique); Other: Breathing Exercises; Other: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training; Behavioral: Standard Care and Education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07336589

FC-EXMASS-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a combined exercise and abdominal massage program improves bowel function and daily well-being in children with functional constipation. Researchers will compare this program with standard care by measuring bowel symptoms, rectal size, pelvic floor strength, trunk endurance, and quality of life.

Full description

This clinical trial includes children with functional constipation. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a combined exercise and abdominal massage program or to standard care and education.

Children in the program group will take part in guided exercise sessions and receive abdominal massage, while the standard care group will receive routine follow-up and advice on bowel habits.

Researchers will measure bowel symptoms, bowel movement patterns, rectal diameter, pelvic floor muscle function, trunk muscle endurance, and quality of life before and after the program.

The results may help improve safe, non-drug treatment options for children with constipation.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 5-18 years
• Diagnosed with functional constipation according to Rome IV criteria
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to participate
• Presence of congenital conditions (e.g., Down syndrome, Hirschsprung disease)
• Endocrine or metabolic disorders (e.g., hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus)
• Neurological or psychiatric disorders (e.g., spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders)
• History of abdominal surgery within the last year
• Presence of herniation or open wounds in the abdominal massage area

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control group will receive standard care and education related to bowel habits and lifestyle recommendations.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Care and Education

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the intervention group will receive standard care plus a combined exercise training and abdominal massage program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Care and Education

Other: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Other: Breathing Exercises

Other: Abdominal Massage (I Love You Technique)

Other: Stretching, Strengthening, and Stabilization Exercises