NCT07336589

COMBINED EXERCISE AND MASSAGE PROGRAM IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION

THE EFFECTS OF A COMBINED EXERCISE TRAINING AND MASSAGE THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Zeynep Idil Sevimli · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

• Functional Constipation (FC)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Stretching, Strengthening, and Stabilization Exercises	Children will complete exercises to improve flexibility, muscle strength, and trunk stability.
OTHER	Abdominal Massage (I Love You Technique)	Gentle abdominal massage will be applied following the colon pathway to support bowel movement.
BEHAVIORAL	Standard Care and Education	Children and their parents will receive education about bowel function and lifestyle guidance on diet, fluid intake, toileting habits, and physical activity.
OTHER	Pelvic Floor Muscle Training	Children will practice fast and slow pelvic floor contractions to improve muscle strength and endurance.
OTHER	Breathing Exercises	Children will perform simple diaphragmatic breathing exercises daily to support abdominal and pelvic muscle coordination.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2026-05-01
• First posted: 2026-01-13
• Last updated: 2026-01-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)