The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Headline: The Solution to Common Bowel Issues May Be a Simple Boost

Video:
Reporter Barb Consiglio (all caps): WHEN THAT CERTAIN NEED STRIKES, THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO AS SMOOTHLY AS THEY SHOULD. AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IS THAT WE'RE DOING IT ALL WRONG.

Dr. Peter Stanich: "The most natural position for a bowel movement is squatting."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: BUT A SIMPLE SOLUTION CAN PUT YOUR BODY INTO THE IDEAL POSITION - A STOOL.

Dr. Peter Stanich: "It elevates your knees and puts your hips into a different angle."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: THAT SQUATTING POSITION STRAIGHTENS THE BEND IN THE RECTUM THAT'S CREATED BY SITTING.

Dr. Peter Stanich: "The straighter that is the easier bowel movements should be."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: DOCTOR PETER STANICH AND HIS TEAM AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MEDICAL BENEFITS OF THESE SIMPLE DEVICES, SO THEY STUDIED THE EFFECTS OF TOILET STOOLS ON HEALTHY ADULTS. 

[Graphic on screen: 71% Bowel movements were faster, 90% Experienced less straining]

Reporter Barb Consiglio: SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED SPENDING LESS TIME GOING TO THE BATHROOM AND NINETY PERCENT EXPERIENCED LESS STRAINING.

Dr. Peter Stanich: "Importantly that after the study was over, two-thirds of participants said that they were going to continue to use the toilet stools."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: SO WITH RAVE REVIEWS, WHY ISN'T EVERYONE USING THEM?

Dr. Peter Stanich: "Bowel movements are a hard thing to talk about and not a lot of people want to bring up their constipation. But if there's something as simple as changing the position we have a bowel movement in, by adding a stool, then that's an easy fix that anyone can add in."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: AND A SMALL BOOST MAY BE THE KEY TO AVOIDING CONSTIPATION, BLOATING AND HEMORRHOIDS AND CAN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR LAXATIVES OR MEDICATIONS.

Dr. Peter Stanich: "I think all of us are looking for ways to avoid more medications or to do things in a more natural way, and this is something that, you know, is easy."

Reporter Barb Consiglio: AT THE OHIO STATE WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER, THIS IS BARB CONSIGLIO REPORTING.