PHOENIX—Walking may be an effective, accessible, and low-cost intervention for managing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a new systematic review from Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Texas Health Resources suggests.
The findings, presented at ACG 2025, were drawn from 21 randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and observational studies evaluating the effects of walking on IBS symptoms (poster 0880).
“Walking shows potential as an effective, low-cost, and accessible strategy for managing IBS,” the investigators wrote in their abstract. “It improves gastrointestinal symptoms and mental health, likely through enhanced gut motility, reduced visceral sensitivity, and gut-brain axis modulation.”
Lead investigator Lana Dardari, MD, an internal medicine resident at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, in Ohio, and her colleagues examined an array of walking interventions. The interventions varied in frequency (three to five times per week), duration (four to 12 weeks), and intensity (moderate or within target heart rate). The outcomes assessed in the included studies ranged from gastrointestinal symptoms—such as abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel habits—to quality of life, psychological well-being, and microbiome composition.
The analysis revealed that most studies reported significant improvements in IBS symptoms, particularly among less active individuals who took up walking. Specifically, patients experienced less abdominal pain, bloating, and stool irregularity. Walking interventions also demonstrated psychological benefits, including reduced anxiety and depression in IBS patients.
Some studies noted favorable shifts in gut microbiome diversity, particularly with longer or personalized walking regimens, suggesting a potential mechanistic role in symptom relief. However, the investigators noted that the microbiome findings varied.
“Some studies report improved microbiome diversity, though findings remain inconsistent due to variability in study design and analysis methods,” the investigators wrote. “Standardized, long-term research is needed to clarify mechanisms. Overall, walking may offer a sustainable way to improve both physical and psychological outcomes in IBS patients.”
Additional standardized, long-term research is needed to fully clarify the mechanisms underlying these benefits and to establish optimal intervention protocols for different patient populations, the investigators concluded.
—David Wild
Dr. Dardari reported no relevant financial disclosures.
