Treatment of Functional Abdominal Distension by Non-instrumental Biofeedback

Summary

Background. Abdominal distention is produced by an abnormal somatic postural tone. The authors developed an original biofeedback technique based on electromyography-guided control of abdominothoracic muscular activity. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial the authors demonstrated the superiority of biofeedback over placebo for the treatment of abdominal distention. However, the technique is technically complex and unpractical.

Aim. To prove the efficacy of a non-instrumental biofeedback technique for the treatment of abdominal distension.

Selection criteria. Visible abdominal distension after meal ingestion; patients are able to identify the offending meal.

Intervention. Patients will be randomized into biofeedback in placebo groups. Three sessions of either biofeedback or placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period.

Biofeedback: patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Placebo: sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Conditions

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Dyspepsia
• Functional Bloating

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Biofeedback

Three sessions of biofeedback intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

BEHAVIORAL

Placebo

Three sessions of placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Fernando Azpiroz, MD · University Hospital Vall d'Hebron

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-29

Primary Completion

2024-12-08

Completion

2025-07-14

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations