Back-Strengthening Exercises for Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Staying physically fit is especially important for ulcerative colitis patients, but this can prove increasingly difficult, as we need to be very careful about the activity and exercises that we engage in. Ulcerative colitis sufferers are also more likely to have had an abdominal surgery, in which case regaining strength in your back is absolutely necessary. Here are some ulcerative colitis friendly exercises for your back muscles.

Floor Swimming

Lie on your stomach on the floor, or with a mat underneath you if you prefer. Extend your legs behind you, keeping them together. Reach your arms out in front of your head. Lift your left arm and your right leg toward the ceiling as far as you can (without pain, of course). Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly bring your arm and leg back down. Repeat with your right arm and left leg, then repeat the whole cycle several times. This exercise will strengthen your back muscles, and you should feel it especially in your lower back. This way, you can work out your back muscles without using weights or other equipment that might cause your body more stress than your ulcerative colitis can handle.

Upward Dog

This is a yoga pose, and can be very helpful for gently exercising the back muscles of an ulcerative colitis patient. Lie on your stomach, feet extended behind you. Place your hands, palms on the floor, on either side of your chin. Your arms should be bent, elbow extended back toward your feet. Now, straighten your arms, lifting your torso off of the floor. Your head, neck and arms should all be perpendicular to the floor. As you gain strength and flexibility in your back muscles, you may choose to increase the angle of your torso, bending further back.

Downward Dog

Another yoga pose for your back muscles. Lie on the floor again, feet extended behind you with your toes being the only part of your foot touching the ground. Your hands should again be palm to the floor on either side of your chin, with bent elbows. Slowly lift your body off of the ground, your rear being the highest point of your body. Your legs should be straight, feet flexed, and arms should also be straight. The work for your back muscles will increase if you allow as much stretch as possible by dropping your head and shoulders into the pose. You should look like an inverted 'V.'

A great way to create an ulcerative colitis friendly back strengthening regimen is to combine these three movements. Start out with a few repetitions of the floor swimming exercise, then move smoothly back and forth between upward and downward dog poses. Go from upward dog directly into lifting your body for downward dog and back again, holding each pose for a few moments. Ulcerative colitis patients need to be especially aware of what our bodies are telling us during exercise, however, so if anything becomes painful, stop and try again later or consult a physician.