Impact of physical activity and selected relaxation techniques on the quality of life of female patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Introduction
The lack of effective pharmacological methods, at a time of great advances in medicine and pharmacotherapy, to alleviate patients’ symptoms drives the search for alternative methods of treatment. Patients often experience mental disorders and symptoms of depression. The difficulty in fully alleviating these symptoms has prompted interest in unconventional interventions that involve close collaboration between doctors, psychologists and coaches.

Aim
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of physical exercise and selected relaxation techniques on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Material and methods
Forty-one women diagnosed with IBS were included in the study. To assess the effectiveness of the method used, the validated IBS-QOL questionnaire was used. The study used an original training program. Twenty-nine women completed the entire 2-month training cycle, in line with the assumptions of the study. The analysis of the results was performed using the program Statistica.

Results
The questionnaire contained questions grouped into 9 dimensions. The results demonstrated a 12.5% relationship between physical activity and QOL of IBS patients. Of the QOL dimensions analysed, the largest differences were found in the areas of sexuality, health preoccupation, body image, and dysphoria, and the smallest in the activity interference dimension. There was a statistically significant difference between physical activity and QOL in patients diagnosed with IBS.

Conclusions
Appropriate physical activity with selected relaxation techniques improved the QOL of the study subjects.