Effect of Visceral Mobilization on Abdomino-Phrenic Dyssynergia in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is among the highest debilitating, commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder. Considering its chronic nature, it would be more beneficial to resort to a treatment option that doesn’t have a long-term drug effect.
Objective: This research assessed the impact of visceral mobilization on abdomino-phrenic dyssynergia in IBS patients.
Patient and Methods: 60 female IBS patients (constipation subtype), equally split into two groups, were recruited from Boulak Al Dakror General Hospital outpatient clinics. Subjective distention feeling and girth measurement were assessed for all participants, as well as psychiatric assessment was done by two scales; Beck Depression Inventory and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Both groups followed a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet with their prescribed medications. Group A received visceral mobilization, while group B received medical care only.
Results: Post 6 weeks of intervention, the study group had a significant lowering in median subjective distension feeling score by (1.50 (1.00-2.00)) contrasted to the control group (3.00 (2.00-4.00)) (P<0.001). The mean girth measurement was significantly decreased by 8.00±3.22 cm in the study group contrasted to 2.60±0.93 in the control group (P< 0.001). The study group had a significant reduction in depression score by 14.80±8.11 points compared to the control group by 2.97±3.66 points (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study group showed a significantly lower mean trait anxiety score by 22.57±10.67 points than the control group by 3.83±2.44 points (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Visceral mobilization effectively normalizes mechanical, vascular, and neurological bowels dysfunctions in IBS patients.