Work Out for Your IBS

Why has exercise, a low-risk option that promotes general health, been overlooked in standard IBS management? The best answer to this question is poor patient adherence. Many health care providers exclude exercise regimens from their IBS treatment plans either because they think the advice will go "in one ear and out the other," or because they are uncertain of the effectiveness of such recommendations in the first place.

Suggested regimens for IBS patients include regular aerobic exercise, such as a 20-minute walk three days a week. This may help you deal with IBS symptoms both physically and mentally. On the physical level, exercise regulates bowel functioning. It stimulates the digestive process, triggering peristalsis (the contractions of the colon that move food along the GI tract), which can be particularly helpful if constipation is your main symptom.