Motility Disorders (2024)

At the Mount Sinai Center for Gastrointestinal Physiology & Motility, we strive to provide the most advanced and comprehensive care for our patients with motility disorders. We honor this commitment by using the latest technological advances in diagnostics and treatment, world-class expertise, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

“Motility disorders” is an umbrella term that encompasses many conditions that can affect the different parts of the intestinal tract. In essence, the cause of these motility disorders is a dysfunction of either the nerves or muscles that leads to the intestinal muscles contracting or relaxing improperly. Some motility disorders (like gastroesophageal reflux disease) are very common, while others, like gastroparesis, are more rare. Some patients have a motility disorder that only affects one part of their intestine while others may have more than one.

Examples of Conditions we treat:

  • Swallowing disorders/dysphagia: trouble swallowing or food feeling stuck
  • Achalasia: failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax that leads to dysphagia or regurgitation
  • Esophageal spasm: hyperactive contractions of the esophagus that can lead to chest pain or dysphagia
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease: exposure of the esophagus lining to stomach contents that can lead to symptoms like heartburn
  • Gastroparesis: slow gastric emptying of food from the stomach
  • Functional dyspepsia: uncomfortable stomach fullness, burning, or pain
  • Cyclic vomiting syndrome: repeating bouts of vomiting that stop on their own
  • Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: a rare condition where the small intestine is unable to push digested food through the digestive tract, as if there were an intestinal obstruction but there is no actual physical blockage
  • Intestinal dysmotility: abnormal intestinal contractions, such as spasms and weak contractions that affects the digestion process
  • Refractory constipation: disorders that slow the process of moving stool through the large intestine. While chronic constipation is usually managed by general gastroenterologists, it sometimes requires specialized testing or treatment provided by motility specialists.
  • Pelvic dyssynergia: uncoordinated muscle movements in the pelvis that leads to difficulty evacuating stool
  • Fecal incontinence: loss of bowel control
Motility Disorders (2024)

FAQs

Motility Disorders? ›

“Motility disorders” is an umbrella term that encompasses many conditions that can affect the different parts of the intestinal tract. In essence, the cause of these motility disorders is a dysfunction of either the nerves or muscles that leads to the intestinal muscles contracting or relaxing improperly.

Can motility disorders be fixed? ›

Medication can treat some motility issues. Sometimes, we can offer surgery and physical therapy as an option.

How do you fix esophageal motility problems? ›

Medical treatments for esophageal dysmotility

Heller myotomy: Surgery on the lower esophageal sphincter muscle to make it easier for food to pass into the stomach. Esophageal dilation: A balloon is inserted and inflated to stretch the muscles of the esophagus to make it wider.

How do you treat low motility in the bowel? ›

Drugs used in the management of intestinal motility disorders include parasympathomimetics, prokinetic agents, opioid antagonists, antidiarrheals, and antibiotics. The agents that are most useful in the treatment of these disorders are neostigmine, bethanechol, metoclopramide, cisapride, and loperamide.

Is GERD a motility disorder? ›

Clinicians should think of GERD as fundamentally being a motility disorder involving the lower esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter [LES]. In people with GERD, inappro- priate relaxation of the LES occurs, permitting reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.

What is the most common motility disorder? ›

Nutcracker esophagus is the most common motility disorder (>40% of all motility disorders diagnosed), but it is the most controversial in significance. The incidence of esophageal dysmotility appears to be increased in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

What does motility disorder feel like? ›

Common symptoms usually include: Gas – Slow-moving muscles can create gas and bloating in the abdomen. Severe constipation – Motility disorders can keep stool from moving through bowels. Diarrhea – Muscle cramping may also cause diarrhea.

What foods should be avoided with esophageal motility disorder? ›

Avoid tough meats, fresh “doughy” bread or rolls, hard bread crust, and abrasive foods. Sip fluids when taking solids at meals and snacks to moisten foods. Stop eating when you start to feel full. Eat slowly in a relaxed atmosphere.

What is the life expectancy of someone with esophageal dysmotility? ›

In group B, 25-year survival rates were also similar in patients [87% (95% CI: 78-97%)] and controls [86% (95% CI: 76-97%)]. Conclusion: Patients with achalasia experience a significant number of complications. Causes of death and life expectancy, however, do not differ from those of the average population.

What medication is used to improve esophageal motility? ›

Medication: Two commonly used medicines to treat motility disorders are calcium channel blockers and long-acting nitrates. These medicines are used if surgery is not a choice and symptoms continue even with Botox® injections.

What simple trick empties your bowels immediately? ›

Try These Tricks for Quick Bowel Movement Stimulation
  • Drink coffee. Regarding drinks that make you poop, coffee is probably the first that comes to mind. ...
  • Squat when you poop. ...
  • Use a fiber supplement. ...
  • Take a stimulant laxative. ...
  • Take an osmotic laxative. ...
  • Take a lubricant laxative. ...
  • Try a stool softener. ...
  • Use a suppository.
Aug 2, 2022

What is the new drug for motility disorders? ›

As an intravenously administered drug, felcisetrag may be effective for acute gastrointestinal motility disorders (which may result in hospitalization), and for enteral feeding intolerance in critically ill patients.

What foods improve bowel motility? ›

Fiber
  • whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and bran flake cereals.
  • legumes, such as lentils, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, and chickpeas.
  • fruits, such as berries, apples with the skin on, oranges, and pears.
  • vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, green peas, and collard greens.

How do you fix sperm motility problems? ›

If the cause of the sperm mobility issue is a medical problem, such as low hormone levels or varicocele, medication such as follicle-stimulating hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin may help. In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery.

How to restore gut motility? ›

Regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, and adequate sleep are all important lifestyle habits that impact gut motility. The gut and nervous system are closely connected and communicate with each other bidirectionally via the gut-brain axis.

Can gut motility be cured? ›

There are many treatment options for motility disorders, including medication, diet modification and surgery. Your gastroenterologist will work closely with you to understand your diagnosis, symptoms and goals for treatment.

Can motility be cured? ›

Treatments for Low Motility

Many treatments can help patients with this issue. They include: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – A form of artificial insemination, this procedure involves placing the sperm into the woman's uterus, significantly reducing the amount of swimming necessary for it to reach the egg.

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