Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Pain Neuroscience Education in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Summary

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise alone and aerobic exercise combined with Pain Neuroscience Education on abdominal pain, IBS symptom severity, quality of life, and salivary cortisol levels in individuals with IBS.

Participants will be randomly allocated into three groups: (1) Aerobic Exercise Group, (2) Aerobic Exercise plus Pain Neuroscience Education Group, and (3) Control Group. The aerobic exercise program will consist of supervised walking sessions performed twice weekly for six weeks. Pain Neuroscience Education will be delivered in short, structured sessions over the same six-week period. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Primary outcomes include abdominal pain intensity, IBS symptom severity, and salivary cortisol levels. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, stool form, and pain-related psychosocial measures. This study aims to provide evidence for non-pharmacological, biopsychosocial approaches in the management of IBS.

Conditions

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise

Participants will participate in a supervised aerobic exercise program designed according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines. The exercise protocol consists of treadmill walking performed three times per week for a total duration of six weeks. Each exercise session includes a 5-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise, and a 5-minute cool-down period. Exercise intensity is individually prescribed at 40-60% of heart rate reserve using the Karvonen formula. Heart rate is monitored throughout the sessions to ensure adherence to the target intensity range. All sessions are supervised by a physiotherapist, and exercise progression is adjusted based on participant tolerance and safety considerations.

BEHAVIORAL

Pain Neuroscience Education

Pain Neuroscience Education is a structured educational intervention aimed at improving participants' understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying pain. The education focuses on central sensitization, pain modulation, and the role of the nervous system in chronic pain conditions. Educational sessions are delivered by a physiotherapist using standardized verbal explanations and visual educational materials. The content is designed to reduce maladaptive pain beliefs, promote adaptive pain coping strategies, and enhance pain-related knowledge. Sessions are conducted regularly throughout the intervention period and are tailored to the participants' comprehension levels while maintaining standardized core educational content.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istinye University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-30

Primary Completion

2027-09-30

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations