Abdominal massage combined with standard laxative therapy significantly reduces constipation severity and faecal incontinence in children with functional constipation, according to a study presented at ESPGHAN 2026.
Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in children worldwide, often causing significant discomfort and reduced quality of life. Although laxatives remain the standard pharmacologic treatment, researchers emphasize the continued need for complementary approaches.
Accordingly, the researchers conducted a study involving 61 children (aged 4–10 years) who met Rome IV criteria for functional constipation to assess the additive effect of abdominal massage therapy as an adjunct treatment for functional constipation. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either standard laxative therapy (polyethylene glycol) plus 12 sessions of Swedish abdominal massage twice weekly for 6 weeks (intervention group; n=33) or laxative therapy alone (control group; n=28).
At 6 weeks, the intervention group showed a significantly greater reduction in constipation severity, with a mean Constipation Assessment Scale score of –4.49 points vs –0.36 points in controls (p<0.001). [ESPGHAN 2026, abstract EPV143]
Moreover, children who received both standard laxative therapy and abdominal massage had fewer faecal incontinence episodes than those who received laxative therapy alone (–1.12 vs –0.22 days/week; p<0.001).
Both groups showed improvements in stool consistency; however, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (p<0.05).
The intervention was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events were reported.
Overall, the results indicate that, alongside standard pharmacologic treatment, Swedish abdominal massage is a safe and effective nonpharmacological approach that markedly improves constipation-related symptoms in children with functional constipation, the researchers said.
“It represents a valuable complementary strategy for holistic management,” they added.
In an earlier study, massage therapy also helped alleviate constipation in infants aged 7–12 months. Constipation severity decreased significantly among infants who received massage therapy than those who did not, demonstrating a consistent positive effect in the younger cohort. [Science Midwifery 2021;9:228–231]