Compared on the numbers of constipation cases after 1 to 4 weeks ' treatment , those in the EA group were all less than those in the routine treatment group [ 24.7 % ( 42/170 ) vs. 36.5 % ( 62/170 ) , 18.8 % ( 32/170 ) vs. 30.6 % ( 52/170 ) , 10.5 % ( 17/162 ) vs. 27.5 % ( 44/160 ) , 9.3 % ( 15/162 ) vs. 19.4 % ( 31/160 ) , P < 0.05 , P < 0.001 ] .