Exercise may Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome

By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 12 - People with irritable bowel syndrome may be able to find some relief by getting regular exercise, a small clinical trial suggests.
The study, of 102 adults with the disorder, found that those who exercised had better odds of improvements in cramps, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.
For people who are currently less-than-active, even a moderate increase in exercise may curb irritable bowel symptoms, according to senior researcher Dr. Riadh Sadik, of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
In an email, Dr. Sadik said the researchers had told those in the exercise group to get 20 to 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise -- like brisk walking or biking -- on three to five days out of the week, for 12 weeks.
That's a level that is generally safe and achievable, Dr. Sadik said, and on top of that, "it will also improve your general health."
None of the participants in the new study, reported online January 4th in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, were regularly active at the outset. The exercise program came with advice from a physical therapist. The rest of the patients stuck with their normal lifestyle habits.
After three months, 43% of the exercisers showed a clinically significant improvement in their symptoms, compared with a quarter of the participants who maintained their normal lifestyle.
The exercise group was also less likely to show worsening symptoms; 8% had a clinically significant increase in symptoms, versus 23% of the comparison group.
That, according to Dr. Sadik, suggests that for a considerable number of people remaining sedentary may only worsen IBS.
He said exercise may be helpful for several reasons. Studies have shown that it can relieve gas and constipation. Regular exercise may also have a positive influence on the nervous and hormonal systems that act on the digestive tract.
Dr. Sadik's advice to patients: "If you have IBS, then you can increase your physical activity to improve your symptoms. If you stay inactive, you should expect more symptoms."
Am J Gastroenterol. Posted online January 4, 2011. Abstract