Popular Science | Abdominal massage can prevent constipation, are you doing it right?

Constipation is one of the most common complications in bedridden patients. Constipation not only causes abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, anxiety, irritability and unbearable pain in patients, but also affects disease treatment and recovery.

Abdominal massage can promote intestinal peristalsis, thereby promoting defecation and preventing constipation. How to "rub the abdomen" correctly?

1. Preparation before abdominal massage <br /> Before abdominal massage, the patient needs to empty his/her bladder first, lie flat on the bed, expose his/her abdomen, bend his/her legs at the hips and knees, and step on the bed (Figure 1.1), or put a soft pillow under the patient's knees to keep the patient in a flexed position (Figure 1.2); before abdominal massage, the practitioner needs to make sure that the hand temperature is appropriate.

2. Rub your abdomen clockwise around your navel

The practitioner places his palms together around the patient's navel and gently rubs the abdomen in a clockwise direction. This technique can be performed for 5 minutes each time, twice a day (Figure 2).

3. Rub your abdomen in a clockwise direction

The practitioner places the middle three fingers of both hands on top of each other and rubs the abdomen in a circular motion from the lower right, upper right, upper left, and lower left direction with moderate force. This technique is performed for 5 minutes each time, twice a day (Figure 3).

4. Notes

1. Abdominal massage is not suitable in some cases, such as acute abdominal diseases, abdominal inflammation such as peritonitis, previous intestinal obstruction, aortic aneurysm, pregnancy or postpartum, unexplained abdominal pain, bleeding tendency, etc.

2. It is recommended to massage the abdomen at least 1 hour after the patient's meal, or 20 minutes before defecation according to the patient's bowel habits;

3. When massaging the abdomen, you can apply essential oils or vaseline to moisturize the skin to prevent rubbing the patient's skin;

4. When massaging the abdomen, the practitioner needs to move slowly and maintain even breathing, and avoid holding the breath or using brute force.

5. Abdominal massage should be combined with dietary adjustments, such as high-fiber diet and drinking more water;

6. Perform moderate exercises in bed, such as turning over.

References:

［1］Yang Qingwei, Luo Jing. Investigation and study on the causes of constipation in bedridden patients in orthopedics department［J］. Journal of Nursing, 2003, 18(5): 331-332

[2] Dong Xueli. The efficacy of dietary guidance combined with abdominal massage in preventing and treating stubborn constipation in bedridden elderly people [J]. Medical Diet Therapy and Health, 2021, 19(16): 15, 19

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Author: Gong Shichao (Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital)

Reviewer: He Longwen (Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital, member of the Cognitive Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association)

Yan Yanning (Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, Vice Chairman of the Science Popularization Working Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association)

Editor: Jia Jing (Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine)