Can Exercise Help Crohn's Disease?

If you have Crohn's disease and are either in remission or have mild symptoms then light exercise might be helpful to you.

Victor Ng from the University of Western Ontario conducted a study with 32 adults with Crohn's disease. All participants were either in remission or suffering only mild symptoms. For three months, half of the participants walked for 30 minutes three days per week. The rest maintained their usual lifestyle. All of the study participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the study and answered questions about their symptoms, overall well-being, and quality of life.

At the study's end researchers found the exercise participants reported improved symptoms and gave higher ratings for quality of life. In the comparison group, or non-exercise group, symptoms had worsened.

"Exercise benefits almost everyone and chronic disease patients are no exception," study co-author Dr. Wanda Millard told Reuters Health. However, Millard cautioned that this and other studies of exercise and Crohn's disease have included only patients in remission or with mild symptoms."

Before beginning any exercise routine you should always check with your doctor first.