Primitive reflex profiles and sensorimotor intervention in children with functional constipation and fecal retention

Functional constipation (FC) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in childhood, affecting approximately 14.4% of children worldwide. Its complex biopsychosocial etiology often complicates treatment, and a subset of affected children develop fecal retention (FR) that is resistant to conventional management. Increasing evidence suggests that neuromotor immaturity and sensorimotor dysfunction may contribute to impaired bowel regulation.

This study investigated the role of primitive reflex profiles in children with functional FR and evaluated whether targeted sensorimotor interventions could support improvement in gastrointestinal function. A total of 663 children were included: 47 children with sensorimotor difficulties and FR (aged 1.5–12.2 years; 76.6% boys) and 616 children without FR (aged 1–17 years; 67.2% boys). Eleven primitive reflexes were assessed.

The research group received individualized primitive reflex inhibition training (PRIT), performed daily at home under parental supervision, with follow-up assessments every four months. The findings demonstrated a significant association between specific primitive reflex profiles and fecal retention. Improvements in reflex integration were associated with reduced FR over an average intervention period of 10 months, and correlations among reflexes suggested a networked influence on postural control and gastrointestinal function.

These results indicate that interventions targeting neuromotor immaturity may serve as a valuable complementary approach in the management of functional constipation, although randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings and assess long-term outcomes. We want to express our gratitude to Rita Szepsi for her invaluable assistance and to the parents of the children participating in the research for their consent and support during the intervention training. Your contributions have been essential to the success of this study.

Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Széchenyi István Egyetem, University of Győr, Egyetem tér 1, Győr, 9026, Hungary Erzsébet Stephens-Sarlós, Szilvia Boros, Attila Szabo & Kristof Schwartz University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Dublin, Ireland Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Kazinczy u. 23–27, Budapest, 1075, Hungary Correspondence to Erzsébet Stephens-Sarlós. The authors declare no competing interests. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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