Can exercise help people suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? A Cochrane systematic review of the evidence to date, undertaken by Dr David Nunan, will aim to find out.
Dr Nunan, a senior research fellow in the department, has been awarded £13,105 by the Royal College of General Practitioners' Scientific Foundation Board to carry out the work. Current evidence underpinning the recommendation of exercise, often given to those with the condition, is based on poor quality, uncontrolled studies.
Cochrane systematic reviews are recognised as the gold standard in evidence-based healthcare, bringing together the combined results of medical research to help inform healthcare decision making.
The causes of IBS are unknown, and there is currently no cure. The condition is unpredictable, painful and debilitating for the many people who suffer with it, and can have a negative impact on quality of life and their emotional state. It is thought that the symptoms can be managed by making changes to diet and lifestyle.