Clinical study on Tuina plus umbilical therapy for senile functional constipation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) plus umbilical therapy for senile functional constipation due to Qi deficiency of lung and spleen.Methods: A total of 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given lactulose oral solution, while the patients in the observation group were treated with Tuina and umbilical therapy. After two weeks of treatment, the scores of the Wexner continence grading scale (WCGS) and patient assessment of constipation-quality of life questionnaire (PAC-QOL) were observed. The effective rates in the two groups were compared. Results: After two weeks of treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 90.0％, while that in the control group was 76.7％, presenting a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the WCGS and PAC-QOL scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After two weeks of treatment, the WCGS and PAC-QOL scores of both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the two scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of Tuina plus umbilical therapy for senile functional constipation is confirmed. This method can improve patients' quality of life. Its efficacy is better than that of taking lactulose oral solution.