Exercising Your Abdominal Muscles: Take it Easy When You Have Ulcerative Colitis

I have talked about many different muscle groups relating to exercising for people with ulcerative colitis. Cramping is a major side effect of flares. Are abdominal exercises a good idea for those with ulcerative colitis and if so, what are some good ones?

First, let me say that I feel like a broken record at times in my ulcerative colitis articles. That is because there are basics having to do with the illness that are apropos no matter what aspect of treatment or self-help we are talking about; drinking water, keeping your weight down, exercising within reason, eating or eschewing food that enhances bowel wellness such as fish, no intense sugar, limited animal fats, heavy oils and boiled foods, are just some facts that apply to every given situation. Further, it must be remembered that no matter what you do, an ulcerative colitis flare can occur at any time.

However, as is my want, I digress from the basic question. "Are abdominal exercises good for people with ulcerative colitis?" Yes, abdominal exercises are good because they relieve stress and they tighten the muscles so that the bowel is better supported. Alright then, finally, I have gotten to the nitty-gritty; what are some good abdominal exercises?

As with most exercises for ulcerative colitis sufferers, the key for good exercises is to keep them non-strenuous. This is particularly important for the abdominal muscles; why? Anyone suffering from ulcerative colitis knows that moving the lower torso in a manner that causes the bowel to be squeezed is dangerous; it can actually trigger a flare; (stress and position)

The problem is that abdominal muscles won't strengthen if they aren't offered some resistance. The key is to tense the abdominal muscles without straining the abdominal muscles.

One exercise for the abdominal muscles that is safe yet effective is a mild "crunch". The person doing them exercise starts on their back and gently sits up putting their hands between the legs which are separated by about eight-ten inches.

Another effective but gentle abdominal exercise for those with ulcerative colitis is the "knees to chest" exercise. It is performed just as it sounds. On your back, simply bring your knees to your chest. As I have mentioned before, I have lower back problems and cannot perform this exercise; it is a good idea if you have back problems to avoid it as well.

When exercising, it is helpful to remember that the "difficulty" of an exercise is not based so much on what is done, as how many times it's done. So, for the ulcerative colitis sufferer trying to tighten their abdominal muscles, simply minimizing the repetitions of many exercises is a safety valve.

An exercise that my doctor encouraged me to try for both my abdominal and back muscles is an exercise called bridging. In this exercise one should lie down on their back and with arms by their side, raise their back, legs and posterior off the floor. This is a great exercise.

Ulcerative colitis is a difficult illness to live with. It is omnipresent. A person who has an ulcerative colitis condition has to use every tool at their command to effectively battle it and even then, there are absolutely no guarantees.

When exercising to strengthen your abdominal muscles, or any muscle group for that matter. Remember that most of the time less is better; take it easy should be the war cry and, staying hydrated is a must.

I would like to add one point. Remember that ulcerative colitis is a very personal condition. It is as unique as there are people who have it. Always, articles that suggest diets or treatments or exercises should be first double-checked with your doctor. Also, you may be able to handle more arduous exercises or perhaps you should not be as active. What I write is always meant to be a guideline; never treated as gospel.

As always keep the chin up, the stress down and, keep your groove!