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Case study to evaluate a standing table for managing constipation.
H Hoenig1, T Murphy, J Galbraith
1Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
SCI Nursing : a Publication of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses
|May 31, 2002
Summary
Standing tables may improve bowel function for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This case study shows a patient experienced increased bowel movement frequency and decreased care time using a standing table, aiding chronic constipation management.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Constipation is a common complication for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
- Current treatments for SCI-related constipation may be insufficient for some patients.
- Standing devices are proposed as a potential intervention, but evidence is limited.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old male with T12-L1 ASIA B paraplegia and chronic constipation was studied.
- The patient's existing bowel program was ineffective, leading to impactions.
- A standing table was introduced as a personalized treatment approach.
Findings:
- The patient used the standing table five times per week.
- A statistically significant increase in bowel movement (BM) frequency was observed (p < 0.05).
- There was a significant decrease in the duration of bowel care episodes.
Implications:
- Standing tables may offer a clinically beneficial addition to bowel management programs for SCI patients.
- This case illustrates a successful individualized approach to managing chronic constipation in SCI.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy of standing tables in a larger SCI population.