Poststroke Constipation Is Associated With Impaired Rectal Sensation

Poststroke constipation is characterized by elevated thresholds for rectal sensation, rather than altered anorectal motility. Patients with brainstem lesions are predisposed to constipation possibly because of the disruption of afferent pathway from the rectum to the brain. Moreover, the desire of defecation threshold and the physical activity level are factors independently associated with poststroke constipation.