If you have IBS then you’ll probably want to do everything you can to keep it at bay. After changing your diet, being physically active is the next best thing you can try.

Not only is it great for your health, it helps the digestive system to function better, and it’s great at alleviating stress since this is a common trigger for IBS symptoms.

When we’re active our body releases lots of feel good hormones that relieve us of any aches and pains, but also relaxes us and rids us of any stress.

Not only that, activity helps the digestive system to function better, meaning that any IBS symptoms we have become less severe, and appear less often.

But physical activity is not without its risks, and there are a few principles to follow to make sure that any activity doesn’t aggravate your IBS:

• Excuse yourself from any vigorous and exhausting activities, opt for light to moderate effort activities instead. Think walking, cycling, and gardening over basketball, running, and iron man triathlons.
• Opt for low impact activities that don’t involve jumping and bouncing around, because these can send vibrations up the body which the digestive system really doesn’t like. Think light dancing over break dancing.
• Choose something that you enjoy.

So as you can see, being physically active doesn’t require gum shields, running socks, and lots of sweat and commitment. In fact all you need to do is incorporate some light movement in to your day, like walking the dog, doing a spot of gardening, and walking to the shops instead of driving.

Faye Prior (Researcher)

Source 

Johannesson et al., (2011). Physical activity improves symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 106(5), 915-22.