According to one implementation an apparatus is provided that comprises: one or more support plates with which there are associated massage units, the one or more support plates being secured to and facing an abdominal wall of the body of a patient; massaging heads integrated in the massage units for performing an abdominal massage on the patient, wherein at least two massaging heads are applied such that they are adjacent to at least one section out of an ascending section, transverse section or descending section of the colon of the patient thereby to apply a localized force generating a pressure on the colon section in a direction normal to the abdominal area, wherein the at least two massaging heads are synchronized; and control means for controlling the magnitude and timing of the localized force.