Functional Magnetic Stimulation Enhances Gastrointestinal Motility in Patients With Chronic Constipation

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