Exercise and Ulcerative Colitis: How Much Do You Need?
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Exercise and Ulcerative Colitis: Health Benefits and How to Get Started

Exercise and Ulcerative Colitis: Health Benefits and How to Get Started
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Updated on July 14, 2025
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If you’re managing a chronic condition like ulcerative colitis (UC), you might be hesitant to start an exercise routine. After all, it can be difficult to imagine being active when you’re having unpleasant symptoms — and it’s important not to overexert yourself, especially if you’re experiencing a flare of UC symptoms. But moderate exercise may be especially helpful for people who have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like UC.

“Moderate-intensity exercise decreases the inflammatory response in the body,” says David Stein, MD, a colorectal surgeon and the regional chief of surgery at MedStar Health in Baltimore. Plus, he says, physical activity can reduce stress — a common trigger of UC flares.

“When you’re running, you feel good,” says Dr. Stein. “And an overall reduction of stress in your life is huge, especially if you have ulcerative colitis.” Often, he notes, “the disease progresses when people are in stressful situations, but their symptoms improve when they leave a stressful environment.”

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What to Know About Exercise and Ulcerative Colitis

Physical activity is important for a healthy lifestyle. In general, the benefits of exercise are vast and include:

There are some additional benefits for people with UC. Research has linked physical activity to improvements in disease activity and a lower risk of flares.

 Studies have also found that physical activity may help improve quality of life, reduce fatigue, and boost mental health in people with IBD.

Furthermore, some evidence suggests that regular exercise may reduce inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases like IBD. But keep in mind that moderate intensity is key to reaping the benefits of physical activity for UC.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise means that an activity raises your heart rate and you’re breaking a sweat — but your breathing should be easy enough that you can talk without gasping for air.

How Much Exercise Should You Aim For?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week for overall health.

For people with IBD, it’s important to consult a doctor before beginning a new exercise routine. You may need to start slow and not work out too intensely. “Intense aerobic exercise, like the extreme miles logged by avid runners, can actually [restrict blood flow to] your gut and induce colitis symptoms,” Stein says. “The blood supply clamps down because your muscles are getting all the energy.”

When it comes to exercising with UC, remember the old adage: “Everything in moderation.”

Illustrative graphic titled Gentle Exercises for Inflammatory Bowel Disease shows Brisk walking, Cycling, Swimming, Yoga, Rowing, Elliptical. Everyday Health logo.
These low-impact, moderate aerobic exercises can get your heart pumping without a high risk of injury.Everyday Health

How to Work More Exercise Into Your Routine

It’s generally recommended that people with IBD do low-impact or moderate physical activity. Keep in mind that low-impact doesn’t mean this exercise won’t get your heart pumping, but that the risk of injury is lower and there's less strain on your joints.

If you’re thinking of starting a new fitness regimen, here are a few forms of low-impact, moderate aerobic exercise to try.

Everyday forms of movement count, too. In one study of 158 people with IBD, greater leisure-time physical activity — but not sweat-inducing exercise — was linked to better IBD symptom scores and improved quality of life.

No matter what activity you choose to start, make sure it’s something you genuinely enjoy. That way, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and reap the health benefits over the long term.

The Takeaway

  • Exercise is important for overall health and can also reduce disease activity and the risk of flares, as well as boost mood and improve quality of life in people with ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • Low-impact, moderate-intensity activities like brisk walking, swimming, yoga, and cycling are generally recommended for people with UC.
  • Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen to make sure it’s safe and appropriate for you.

Resources We Trust

Additional reporting by Quinn Phillips.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity. Mayo Clinic. August 26, 2023.
  2. Sabir G et al. The Potential Benefits of Exercise in Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review. Cureus. September 8, 2024.
  3. Raman M et al. Physical Activity in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. October 4, 2021.
  4. Luo B et al. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Exercise on Autoimmune Diseases: A 20-Year Systematic Review. Journal of Sport and Health Science. May 2024.
  5. What Does ‘Moderate-Intensity Exercise’ Mean Anyway? Cleveland Clinic. January 17, 2024.
  6. Adult Activity: An Overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 20, 2023.
  7. Exercise. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
  8. Kim B et al. Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Medicine. July 9, 2021.
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Ira Daniel Breite, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.

Dr. Breite divides his time between technical procedures, reading about new topics, and helping patients with some of their most intimate problems. He finds the deepest fulfillment in the long-term relationships he develops and is thrilled when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease improves on the regimen he worked with them to create.

Breite went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for medical school, followed by a residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and a gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Working in city hospitals helped him become resourceful and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds.

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Ajai Raj

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Ajai Raj is a reporter specializing in medical science, health, and technology. His work has appeared in Popular Science, Scientific American Mind, The Scientist, and the New York Daily News, as well as a number of medical trade journals.
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