Systematic review: Pelvic floor muscle training for functional bowel symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Background and Aim: Large bowel functional symptoms are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are in disease remission. The efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training for symptoms of evacuation difficulty or fecal incontinence is well established in patients without organic bowel disease but is unknown in these patients. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the published evidence in this group of patients. Methods: A systematic review was conducted of articles evaluating pelvic floor muscle training, with or without biofeedback, to improve bowel function in patients with quiescent IBD, including those with an ileoanal pouch. The outcome of interest was improved bo..