2015 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 23-28
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of two different defecatory postures over the anorectal angle (ARA) and the amount of defecation.
Methods: Defecography was used to evaluate the ARA, sacral angle (SA) and the amount of defecation in patients with evacuation disorders when patients were in an upright sitting position versus the forward-leaning position.
Results: The ARA, SA and amount of defecation for the forward-leaning position was 134.6°±16.8°, 92.4°±10.7°, and 140.7 g±93.3 g, respectively, while those for the upright sitting position were 114.1°±21.0°, 84.9°±10.8°,and 90.1g±82.0 g, respectively. Our findings revealed that in the forward-leaning position the ARA and SA were significantly greater and the amount of defecation significantly increased.
Conclusion: In the forward-leaning position, the outward angle of the pelvis and sacral nutation create a greater ARA during defecation and increases the amount of defecation. Posture during defecation is an important variable to consider.
