The Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture for Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Integrative Medicine
• Neuromodulation

Background:

• Functional constipation (FC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder.
• Electroacupuncture (EA) is a potential therapeutic modality for FC.
• Optimizing EA techniques, such as needle insertion depth, may enhance treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for functional constipation.
• To compare the effects of deep versus shallow needle insertion in EA for FC.
• To assess the impact of EA on bowel movement frequency and quality of life in FC patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled study involving 67 participants with FC.
• Participants were assigned to either shallow puncture (control) or deep puncture EA groups.
• Treatment involved 5 sessions/week for 2 weeks, followed by 3 sessions/week for 6 weeks, with assessments of CSBM, SBM, BSS, and PAC-QOL.

Main Results:

• Both deep and shallow EA significantly increased complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) and spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) compared to baseline.
• Deep EA demonstrated superior efficacy over shallow EA in improving bowel movement frequency (P < 0.05).
• No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding Bristol Stool Scores (BSS) or Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL).

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for functional constipation.
• Deeper needle insertion during EA may yield better results for improving bowel regularity in FC patients.
• Further large-scale, long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore optimal EA protocols for FC.