Experimental Study Uses Electric Zaps to Reduce Constipation

By Kam Kompani

March 4, 2020

A new experimental study used electric zaps to help chronically constipated women go to the toilet more frequently.

At the end of the 6-week treatment period, 53% of participants from the therapy group were able to achieve over three bowel movements per week, compared to only 13% in the placebo group.

At the end of the 6-week treatment period, 53% of participants from the therapy group were able to achieve over three bowel movements per week, compared to only 13% in the placebo group.

The treatment has been used to manage numerous health conditions, such as bladder instability, and has recently been recommended for fighting constipation.

The researchers divided thirty-three women, aged 18-74 years, with chronic constipation into two groups: test (17 women) and placebo (16 women).

For the test group, two currents were passed diagonally through the abdomen to the back. Whereas for the placebo group, everything was identical to the test group, except the currents ran laterally and not through the abdomen. Participants in both groups performed the stimulation every day for six weeks.

In the follow-up completed three months after the end of the treatment, patients from the test group were four times more likely to report improved bowel movements.

Chronic constipation affects about 15% of the population. People suffering from constipation typically rely on a “variety of strategies beginning with lifestyle advice addressing dietary fibre and fluid intake, followed by the use of laxatives,” the authors explained. Despite the existence of such practices, some patients with chronic constipation have difficulties managing symptoms.

Adverse Effects

The participants did not experience any adverse effects or discomfort during the treatment period.

One participant in the test group developed gastroenteritis (also known as infectious diarrhea), which was resolved without intervention within a week and was not considered to be related to the therapy.

The authors did report that: “Distressingly, one patient in the interferential therapy group died due to suicide during the follow-up period (about a week after ceasing treatment). Her psychological issues were not disclosed at recruitment. The suicide was not considered related to therapy.”

“Thus, the findings support interferential therapy as a safe, non-invasive means of treating symptoms of constipation in adult women.”

The absence of any adverse or painful effects is a major win for interferential stimulation therapy. Similar treatments have been found to be painful and unpractical.

Study: Judith Moore et al. 2020. “Randomised clinical trial: transabdominal interferential electrical stimulation vs sham stimulation in women with functional constipation“. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.