Constipation Management and Abdominal Massage in the Elderly

Constipation is a common health problem among older adults. If left untreated, it may lead not only to distressing symptoms but also to serious and potentially life-threatening complications such as abdominal pain, psychological disorders, intestinal obstruction, and bowel perforation. Although pharmacological interventions are effective in providing short-term symptom relief, their long-term use may result in significant adverse effects and increased healthcare costs. Therefore, there is a growing need for supportive and complementary approaches to alleviate constipation in the elderly population. In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine practices have been widely adopted in symptom management. Evidence suggests that massage therapy, as one of these approaches, is effective in the management of constipation. Abdominal massage is a non-invasive, safe, and well-tolerated intervention that does not cause pain or significant side effects. However, the number of studies investigating its effectiveness in the elderly population remains limited. In this context, nurses should be knowledgeable about massage as a complementary and alternative intervention for constipation management, provide appropriate patient education, and closely monitor patient outcomes following its application