In normal digestion, food is moved through the digestive tract by rhythmic contractions called peristalsis. When someone suffers from a digestive motility disorder, these contractions are abnormal. This disorder can be due to one of two causes:
- A problem within the muscle itself
- A problem with the nerves or hormones that control the muscle's contractions
Intestinal walls consist of layers of muscles. In normal conditions, these muscles contract and relax in a coordinated, rhythmic fashion that propels food from the esophagus to the stomach, and through the intestine to the anus. But in the presence of a motility disorder, these contractions don't occur in a coordinated fashion. This results in food not passing through the intestine properly.
When there is a motility disorder, the following symptoms may occur:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal motility disorders may be associated with the following conditions:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Diabetes
- Gastroparesis — paralysis of the stomach
- Esophageal spasms — irregular contractions of the muscles in the esophagus
- Hirschsprung's disease — a congenital disorder in which poor motility causes obstruction of the large intestine
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction — a rare disorder of the muscles and nerves in the intestine
- Scleroderma — a progressive hardening and scarring of the skin and connective tissues
- Achalasia — an esophageal motility disorder
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