Ameliorating Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation at Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36) Acupoints Combined with Adaptive Biofeedback Training on Functional Outlet Obstruction Constipation

Table 1

Baseline characteristics for the three study groups.

	Overall (N = 45)	Group A (n = 15)	Group B (n = 15)	Group C (n = 15)	F
Gender
Male (n)	11	4	4	3		0.887
Female (n)	34	11	11	12
Age (yeras; mean ± SE)	45.71 ± 10.64	47.20 ± 10.98	45.38 ± 12.79	43.24 ± 9.22	2.014	0.251
BMI (kg/m^2; mean ± SE)	21.31 ± 4.03	21.53 ± 3.67	20.45 ± 3.05	21.68 ± 4.83	1.415	0.977
Duration of constipation (months; mean ± SE)	47.95 ± 7.36	43.46 ± 8.59	48.34 ± 11.39	52.48 ± 9.38	2.869	0.168

Participants in group A were treated with Macrogol 4000 Powder (MAC, 10 g, twice daily), group B with ABT (twice daily) + MAC (10 g, twice daily) + Sham-TEA (twice daily), and group C received TEA (30 min twice daily) + ABT (twice daily) + MAC (10 g, twice daily). The Chi-squared test was used for comparison of gender between the three groups and the result showed that Chi-squared = 0.241; . No statistically significant difference was noted in age, gender, BMI, and the duration of constipation.