Best exercises for people with Crohn's disease

Studies have shown that exercise can be helpful with relieving Crohn's symptoms, mainly by reducing stress levels.

Stress can cause extra agitation to your digestive problems, thus, reducing stress through exercise can be super helpful.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation to your digestive tract, which brings on abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, severe diarrhoea, and malnutrition.

Those with Crohn’s will know that there is unfortunately no cure for the disease, but there are ways to decrease the symptoms. However, this can be a difficult task, you need to reduce inflammation and address the problems with your immune system.

Exercise can encourage your digestive tract to work more efficiently, while at the same time improving your physical and mental health, and possibly reducing your symptoms and strengthening your immune system.

Best exercises for Crohn’s

Yoga:

Some yoga poses can be great and promote better digestion and can be a great form of working out. It involves controlled movement and breathing techniques, which can be helpful when relieving stress, which can be a great benefit to your digestive system.

Moderate Aerobic Exercise:

High-impact aerobic exercising can be hard work and draining for those with Crohn's disease, so it can be beneficial to speak to your doctor about how intense your workouts can be.

Moderate aerobic exercise can be just as efficient and very helpful at reducing your symptoms.

A study taken out by the American Journal of Gastroenterology showed that walking three times a week at a moderate pace for around 30 minutes can help those with Crohn’s reduce their symptoms. At the same time, the participants noticed a positive difference in their way of life.

You could also benefit from other aerobic exercises such as swimming, cycling, or water aerobics.

Strength Training:

Resistance training is an essential way to stay fit, it is important to include two to three sessions of strength training per week.

The Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis took out a study that showed that resistance training is one of the best ways to prevent bone mineral loss and improve body composition.

You do not need to head to the gym for strength training, this can easily be done with elastic workout bands or dumbbells of any size, both you can order online!

Remember: always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program or activity.

Tips:

• Make sure you stop exercising if you become dizzy or fatigued

• Limit exercise during flare-ups

• Choose a workout space that gives you easy access to a toilet

• Hydrate properly

• Choose light or moderate exercise to ensure you do not put too much stress on your digestive system

• Pick something you enjoy!