According to the MayoClinic.com, Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration and even malnutrition. No one is exactly sure what causes Crohn's, but exercise can improve quality of life for sufferers.
Effects
Crohn's disease can erode your quality of life. As if the abdominal pain weren't enough to deal with, you might feel uncomfortable heading out for a long run when you don't know if you'll need to use the restroom along the way. This sense of awkwardness could lead you to stop doing the things you enjoy, including running. However, a lack of exercise can lead to negative psychological effects, adding depression to the other issues you already have to deal with.
Benefits
A 2006 study in the "Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology" by N. Narula and colleague showed that exercise may decrease Crohn's activity and reduce psychological stress.
Crohn's patients are at increased risk for osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise like running can help build bone density and prevent osteoporosis.
Running
Most of the research around exercise and Crohn's disease is focused on light- to moderate-intensity exercise like walking, swimming and tai chi. High-intensity exercise like running may provoke problems with gastrointestinal emptying, which is already a problem for people with Crohn's.
If you never were a runner before your diagnosis, the period right after you discover you have the disease is not the best time to start. If your symptoms have been quiet for some time, or if you have been running for many years, then you can probably resume a running program if your doctor approves.
Strategies
People who live with Crohn's become experts at planning ahead. The easiest way to start your running program may be to begin at home on the treadmill. That way, you will be in a comfortable environment and you can stop whenever you need to.
After you have built up to about 30 minutes of light running on the treadmill without having to stop for bathroom breaks, you might want to start running outside. When you first take your show on the road, look for a spot with easy access to a restroom. If you do short laps around your neighborhood, you will never be very far from your own bathroom. You can also head out to a park and do a 1/2 mile loop around the facilities.
Over time, you will get comfortable with your own body and come up with some creative solutions. If you choose to move on to longer runs, you might structure a route around public toilets or take your own toilet paper and a change of clothes with you.
Cautions
Make sure your doctor gives her approval to start a running program. Because people with Crohn's are prone to dehydration, always take water with you and be sure to drink it. Stop exercising and consult with your doctor if your gut begins to hurt worse, or if you experience fainting, dizziness or chest pains.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Crohn's Disease
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Crohn's Disease
- "Gut": High Prevalence of Osteoporitic Vertebral Fractures in Patients with Crohn's Disease; J Klaus, et al.; Nov. 2002
- "ACE Group Fitness Instructor Manual;" American Council on Exercise; 2006.
- "Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology": Exercise and Crohn's Disease; N. Narula et al; May 2008
