Can a simple footstool help you poop better?

NCT ID NCT07709078

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Ohio State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study compares two different footstool heights (7 inches vs. 9 inches) to see if using one during bowel movements can reduce straining and improve the feeling of complete emptying in people with pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic constipation. Participants use the footstool at home for 8 weeks and complete online surveys about their symptoms. The goal is to find a simple, non-medical way to improve bowel function.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: a toilet footstool (7 or 9 inches) used during bowel movements
What this could lead to: If effective, using a simple footstool could become a low-cost, non-drug way to ease bowel straining and improve quality of life for people with pelvic floor dysfunction.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The benefit may be modest, and the ideal stool height is unknown.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

constipation disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC CONSTIPATION PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNC

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

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