Exercise for IBS...It Works!

Exercise for IBS? When you are suffering with abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, the last thing you may feel like doing is high intensity exercise. First of all, you may be in too much pain, and second, IBS tends to drain your energy and leave you feeling exhausted a lot of the time. So I am NOT talking about heavy, intense, dripping with sweat exercise. I have found that the type of exercise for IBS that works best is the gentle kind. Engage in some movement for at least 30 minutes to help relieve even the strongest IBS symptoms. You can even do several 10 minute bursts of exercise throughout the day. Just get moving to keep everything in your digestive system flowing smoothly. Most doctors will tell you to treat IBS, you can try meditation and relaxation. Some of the exercises you do will help you cover this base. There are several choices of exercises that can be soothing to your mind as well as your IBS.

Walk while listening to soothing music

Gentle yoga and stretching

Bike riding

Jog in place while enjoying your favorite show

Dancing around the living room

Raking leaves

Gardening

Swimming

Play Wii, but stand up and REALLY play, doing light jogging in between turns

Kicking the soccer ball around with your kids


Exercise to Relieve Stress

There is certainly a connection between IBS and stress, just as there is a connection between stress and a lot of disorders (headaches, heart problems, high blood pressure, to name a few). It is important for anyone to eliminate too much stress in life. But just sitting down and relaxing will not help your IBS symptoms immediately. It is more likely that by learning to relax more, and reducing the amount of stress in your life, you will be better off controlling your IBS symptoms in the long run. Doing exercise for IBS, however, can give you results almost immediately. You may find the pain, gas, and bloating has disappeared after that walk or bike ride.

Speaking of stress, there are times when it is just not possible to avoid some of life's most stressful events. My IBS became full blown when I was caring for my mother who was dying of cancer. There was no way out of that time of extreme stress and sadness for me. It was not a situation I chose, nor one I could just avoid or eliminate. All of us experience these times of hardship, which is why the medical advice to just relax does not necessarily help alleviate IBS. But daily exercise is a great stress reducer and it is good for you, too!

So just keep moving!

Check out more Natural and Home Remedies for IBS

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