April is IBS Awareness Month, which focuses on IBS diagnosis, treatment, and improving quality of life for IBS sufferers. If you haven’t heard of it, IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. IBS manifests as diarrhea, constipation, or alternating symptoms and affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States.
Since the condition comes and goes, manifests very differently in individuals, and can be worsened by things like stress, there is no single treatment that is universally considered the best IBS treatment. Most people learn to manage it through diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments.
Promising Research for IBS
Exercise improves IBS symptoms
Even though exercise might sound really unappealing while one is having stomach pain, constipation, or loose bowels, one study showed that the group that increased their physical activity had more relief from IBS than the control group. One trick that can help you stick to your exercise plan, even if you aren’t feeling well, is to remind yourself how much better you feel after exercise. You should also choose a form of exercise that appeals to you. If you’re having fun, you are more likely to do it consistently.
Stress reduction for IBS relief
Since stress can be a trigger for IBS, and exercise relieves stress, it is logical that exercise could indirectly reduce IBS symptoms. Focusing on the stress relief aspect of exercise might have other benefits that specifically relieve IBS. For example, if jarring, high-impact exercise like running or boot camp tends to trigger loose bowels, slow, relaxing movement like tai chi or yoga, could be a better form of exercise for people with IBS.
Exercise tips for people with IBS
IBS sufferers might want to schedule their exercise at the same time each day, ideally a time when they tend to have less stomach upset. Avoid caffeine, hot drinks, and food within a couple hours of exercise. Use the bathroom before beginning exercise. If you suspect you might need to use it again in the middle of your workout, workout at the gym, a high school track, or another place where bathrooms are easily accessible.