Functional Magnetic Stimulation Enhances Gastrointestinal Motility in Patients With Chronic Constipation

A Prospective Trial to Study Whether Functional Magnetic Stimulation Enhances Gastrointestinal Motility in Patients With Chronic Constipation

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Functional Magnetic stimulation (FMS) on gastrointestinal motility in patients suffering from chronic constipation due to non-neurological issues.

The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the usefulness of FMS as a noninvasive method to stimulate the GI motility in individuals with non-neurological constipation by adopting a 5-week conditioning protocol performed in a hospital outpatient setting. FMS has demonstrated the ability to generate significant rectal pressure and enhance GI transit in normal and spinal cord injury subjects. With proper abdominal muscle conditioning, FMS may improve colonic motility partly due to improved abdominal muscle tone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-80
• constipation defined by the Rome II criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Past history of abdominal surgery
• past history of diabetes mellitus
• past history of hypothyroidism
• past history of inflammatory bowel disease
• past history of significant psychiatric disturbances
• past history of drug abuse
• past history of cardiac pacemakers
• past history of metal implants
• patients who cannot travel to keep the follow up
• patients who are prisoners
• patients who are mentally handicapped
• patients who are pregnant