Dysmotility and Motility Dysfunction Disorders

Dysmotility is a term used to describe a health problem in which the muscles of the digestive system do not work as they should. This can result in a change in the speed, strength or coordination of the muscles of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and/or the large intestine. Dysmotility is also known as motility dysfunction. 

Normal motility is a system of coordinated, orderly muscle contractions from the beginning to the end of your digestive system that facilitates the digestion of the foods that you eat. Dysmotility can result in poor or spastic propulsion of food through your esophagus and stomach, chyme through your small intestine, and stool through your large intestine. And any change from normal motility can result in unpleasant digestive symptoms.

Symptoms of a motility dysfunction will vary depending on where the motility problem is showing up. In other words, dysmotility in the upper parts of the digestive system (esophagus, stomach) are likely to cause upper abdominal pain, burning or discomfort, and possible vomiting. Dysmotility further along the digestive tract (small and large intestines) is more likely to result in lower abdominal pain, cramping, and bowel movement problems (e.g. diarrhea or constipation).

Dysmotility can occur as a result of dysfunction in the nerves and muscles in any of the various organs of your digestive system. There are a wide variety of illnesses that can cause dysmotility as a reflection of the underlying disease state. In other cases, the cause of dysmotility is unknown and is seen as the primary reason for a health problem. These health problems are called motility disorders.

The following are some of the primary health problems in which dysmotility is the primary problem behind the diagnosis:

The following disorders involve a dysmotility in the esophagus:

• Achalasia
• Diffuse esophageal spasm
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The following disorders all involve a dysmotility in the stomach:

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Dumping syndrome (Rapid gastric emptying)
• Gastroparesis (Delayed gastric emptying)
• Functional dyspepsia

The following conditions are related to dysmotility in the small intestine:

• Intestinal pseudo-obstruction
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

The following health conditions involve dysmotility in the large intestine:

• Dyssynergic defecation
• Fecal incontinence
• Functional constipation (Chronic idiopathic constipation)
• Functional diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

When a person experiences diarrhea, motility is seen as too rapid — thus the contents of the large intestine are propelled through too quickly, resulting in loose and watery stool. When a person experiences constipation, motility is too slow. This slower transit time results in too much water being drawn from the stool. This creates a stool that is hard and more difficult to pass.

Motility dysfunction and visceral hypersensitivity are considered to be the two hallmark physiological problems underlying IBS.