Belly zaps may speed up bathroom time for spinal injury patients
NCT ID NCT04307303
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether using a device that electrically stimulates the abdominal muscles can help people with spinal cord injury manage their bowel movements more quickly and comfortably. 36 adults with injuries at or above T12 were randomly assigned to receive real or low-dose (sham) stimulation for 12 weeks. Participants tracked bowel time and completed quality-of-life questionnaires. The goal was to see if this approach could reduce constipation and improve daily bowel care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
abdominal functional electrical stimulation (ABFES) device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to reduce bowel management time and improve quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early proof-of-principle study with only 36 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the benefit over sham stimulation is uncertain.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury, SP2 9BJ, United Kingdom