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Effects of a Supervised Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program on Constipation Symptoms and Quality of Life in
Ömer Faruk Can1, Raziye Şavkin1, Ufuk Kutluana2
1Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Pamukkale University, Pamukkale, Türkiye.
Background:
Chronic constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder associated with substantial symptom burden and impaired quality of life. Evidence supporting synchronous physiotherapist-supervised telerehabilitation in adults with chronic constipation is scarce.
Methods:
Adults with chronic constipation were allocated to either a supervised telerehabilitation-based exercise plus online education group (n = 16) or an online education-only control group (n = 16). The intervention consisted of live, physiotherapist-supervised exercise sessions delivered three times per week over 4 weeks. Outcomes included stool consistency assessed by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, constipation severity assessed by the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI), disease-specific quality of life assessed by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life questionnaire (PAC-QOL), and adherence.
Key Results:
By Week 4, normal stool form (Bristol Types 3-5) was observed in 68.8% of the intervention group and 37.5% of the control group. CAS scores were lower in the intervention group at Week 4 (3.56 ± 2.94 vs. 7.25 ± 4.33; p = 0.008). CSI total scores also favored the intervention group (24.75 ± 9.48 vs. 37.19 ± 13.84; p = 0.006), with greater percentage improvements in patient-reported obstructive defecation, colonic inertia, pain, and total severity scores. For PAC-QOL, the between-group difference was significant only for satisfaction percentage change (p = 0.008). Mean adherence was 96.9%.
Conclusions And Inferences:
Adding synchronous physiotherapist-supervised telerehabilitation-based exercise to online education may improve stool form and patient-reported constipation severity compared with education alone. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger trials with objective physiological outcomes and longer follow-up.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05899062.
