Does regular standing improve bowel function in people with spinal cord injury?

By S Kwok, L Harvey, J Glinsky, J L Bowden, M Coggrave, D Tussler

This was a randomised crossover trial to determine if a 6-week standing programme can improve bowel function in people with spinal cord injury.

Does regular standing improve bowel function in people with spinal cord injury

Twenty community-dwelling people with motor complete spinal cord injury above T8 participated in a 16-week trial. The trial consisted of a 6-week stand phase and a 6-week no-stand phase separated by a 4-week washout period.

Participants were randomised to one of two treatment sequences. They allocated to the Treatment First group stood on a tilt table for 30 min per session, five times per week for 6 weeks and then did not stand for the next 10 weeks. Participants allocated to the Control First group did the opposite: they did not stand for 10 weeks and then stood for 6 weeks. Participants in both groups received routine bowel care throughout the 16-week trial.

Assessments occurred at weeks 0, 7, 10 and 17 corresponding with pre and post stand and no-stand phases. The primary outcome was Time to First Stool. There were seven secondary outcomes reflecting other aspects of bowel function and spasticity.

Please access to the full study at the National Library of Medicine. Moreover, here is one of our podcast episodes about SCI and bowel management.  It could bring you more knowledge about how to improve bowel function. 

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