The effect of abdominal functional electrical stimulation on bowel function in multiple sclerosis: a cohort study

Background Chronic constipation is prevalent in people with multiple sclerosis, with current treatments usually only partially effective. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of abdominal functional electrical stimulation to reduce whole gut and colonic transit times and improve bowel and bladder-related quality of life. Methods A total of 23 people with multiple sclerosis who fulfilled the Rome III criteria for functional constipation applied abdominal functional electrical stimulation for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Whole gut and colonic transit times and bowel and bladder-related quality of life were measured before and after the intervention period. Results Whole gut (mean 81.3 (standard deviation 28.7) hours pre vs. 96.1 (standard deviation 53.6) hours post-intervention, P = 0.160) and colonic transit time (65.1 (31.4) vs. 74.8 (51.1) hours, P = 0.304) were unchanged following 6 weeks of abdominal functional electrical stimulation. There was a significant improvement in bowel (mean 1.78 (SD: 0.64) pre vs. 1.28 (SD: 0.54) post, P = 0.001) and bladder (50.6 (26.49) vs. 64.5 (21.92), p = 0.007) related quality of life after the intervention period. Conclusion While abdominal functional electrical stimulation did not reduce whole gut and colonic transit times for people with multiple sclerosis, a significant improvement in bowel and bladder-related quality of life was reported.