Manual physical therapy clears adhesive bowel obstruction and strictures in a patient with Crohn’s disease

Abstract

A woman with Crohn's disease with prior resection presented with a one-year history of persistent abdominal pain. The small bowel follow-through radiograph demonstrated the presence of two strictures in the small intestine due to adhesive scarring.Opting for conservative management, the patient underwent a specialized manual physical therapy regimen. Following treatment, the patient experienced significant decrease of abdominal pain and improved biomechanical function. Radiologic imaging revealed complete resolution of both strictures. Manual physical therapy may be a viable non-operative option to manage small bowel strictures or obstruction.