Case study to evaluate a standing table for managing constipation.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Standing devices have been advocated as a potentially beneficial treatment for constipation in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, definitive data are lacking. A case of a patient who requested a standing table to treat chronic constipation is presented as an illustration of a method to address this problem on an individual patient level. The patient was a 62-year-old male with T12-L1 ASIA B paraplegia who was injured in 1965. The patient was on chronic narcotics for severe, nonoperable shoulder pain. His bowel program had been inadequate to prevent impactions. A systematic approach was used to measure the effects of a standing table on frequency of bowel movements (BMs) and on length of bowel care episodes. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in frequency of BMs and a decrease in bowel care time with the use of the standing table 5 times/week versus baseline. For this patient, the use of the standing table was a clinically useful addition to his bowel care program.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Hoenig, H; Murphy, T; Galbraith, J; Zolkewitz, M

Published Date

  • 2001

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 18 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 74 - 77

PubMed ID

  • 12035465

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0888-8299

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States