Abdominal, directional massage using a warm oil works wonders. I deal with this every day in my profession and the massage is a great adjunct therapy to whatever lax a patient has been given. Massage brings more fluid and blood supply to the bowels and encourages peristalsis(bowel contraction and release).
If you are not sure what direction to massage just think of starting at 1 or 2 o'clock and massaging across to 10 o'clock and around the clock face in a smooth motion until you reach 5 o'clock. Stand at the left side of your boy, place rt. hand on the 2, left hand on the 8. Place a little pressure on the heal(a little, mind you, gently) of your rt. hand, push slowly and smoothly towards the 10 and make the curve. At the same time you will be cupping your left hand slightly and pulling along the skin from the 8 to the 5 or 4 o'clock position. Make it rhythmic and slow, like kneading bread dough. The hands will be working opposite of each other in this push and pull motion....smooth and flowing. Always counter-clockwise.
It will feel funny to him at first, but he will relax into it and it will really work. You can guage how firm or soft to make your movements according to his comfort level. Remember, one hand will push the contents toward the rt. upper corner, or quadrant, of his bowels and swoop around the corner. The left hand reaches around that bend slightly and pulls the contents towards the left lower quadrant.
I teach this to my patient's caregivers and it helps tremendously. This is not recommended for people who have Crohn's Disease or any other condition where the intestinal wall is thin or inflamed.
If you are not sure what direction to massage just think of starting at 1 or 2 o'clock and massaging across to 10 o'clock and around the clock face in a smooth motion until you reach 5 o'clock. Stand at the left side of your boy, place rt. hand on the 2, left hand on the 8. Place a little pressure on the heal(a little, mind you, gently) of your rt. hand, push slowly and smoothly towards the 10 and make the curve. At the same time you will be cupping your left hand slightly and pulling along the skin from the 8 to the 5 or 4 o'clock position. Make it rhythmic and slow, like kneading bread dough. The hands will be working opposite of each other in this push and pull motion....smooth and flowing. Always counter-clockwise.
It will feel funny to him at first, but he will relax into it and it will really work. You can guage how firm or soft to make your movements according to his comfort level. Remember, one hand will push the contents toward the rt. upper corner, or quadrant, of his bowels and swoop around the corner. The left hand reaches around that bend slightly and pulls the contents towards the left lower quadrant.
I teach this to my patient's caregivers and it helps tremendously. This is not recommended for people who have Crohn's Disease or any other condition where the intestinal wall is thin or inflamed.
