Regular low-impact physical activity, in general, can be beneficial for UC. Not only does it reduce stress, but it also bolsters the immune system, lowers inflammation, and boosts mood, according to Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
“Higher-impact exercise shouldn’t be ruled out, but it does temporarily increase inflammation and stress on the body, and that might be uncomfortable even if it’s short-lived,” he says. “Low-impact, gentle movement tends to be preferred, especially when done consistently.”
Yoga is a top example here. A research review looking at yoga with patients who have inflammatory bowel disease noted that yoga is the most frequently used mind-body practice in the world, and several studies have found that yoga can improve symptoms and quality of life.
Unlike simple stretching exercises, yoga focuses on deep breathing, mindfulness, and key poses that can be valuable when used in combination, says Dr. Bedford.
Another meta-analysis found that yoga-based practices significantly lowered anxiety, depression, and perceived stress for those with inflammatory bowel disease, and even improved patients’ inflammatory markers. In that research, doing about an hour of yoga three to five times per week provided measurable benefits.
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