The Anonymous Widower

Could Tennis Help The Symptoms Of Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticulitis?

When I used to play real tennis a very regularly, I didn’t seem to get the angry gut, I have now.

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

Yes, playing tennis can help manage the symptoms of uncomplicated pancolonic diverticulitis as part of an active lifestyle, though it is best suited for the prevention of flare-ups rather than treatment during an active attack.

Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise like tennis has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing diverticulitis.

How Tennis Helps DiverticulitisReduces Risk of Attacks:

Studies show that vigorous activity, such as tennis, can reduce the risk of developing diverticulitis by up to 27%), as mentioned in research published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases.

Improves Bowel Function: Regular exercise helps keep bowels moving, which helps prevent constipation—a major contributing factor to diverticular pain.

Reduces Inflammation: Regular, moderate-intensity physical activity (which can include tennis) has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

Weight Management: Exercise helps manage weight, reducing obesity, which is a major risk factor for complicated diverticular disease.

My exercise levels have certainly dropped since I had the stroke and moved to London.

 

May 10, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Health | , , , , | Leave a comment

Could Horseriding Help The Symptoms Of Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticulitis?

When I used to ride horses a small amount, I didn’t seem to get the angry gut, I have now.

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

While there is no direct scientific evidence regarding horseriding specifically, general physical activity and exercise are strongly recommended for managing and preventing the symptoms of uncomplicated diverticulitis.

Regular exercise helps to increase bowel motility (movement), which can help reduce the pressure within the colon that contributes to diverticular symptoms.

Here is how physical activity, including potentially activities like horseriding, can play a role in managing this condition:

Benefits of Regular Exercise on Diverticular Symptoms

Reduced Risk: Studies show that regular, vigorous activity can decrease the risk of developing diverticulitis.

Improved Digestion: Exercise encourages regular bowel movements, preventing the constipation that often exacerbates diverticular pain.

Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces pressure on the colon, which is beneficial for managing diverticular disease.

Important Considerations for Horseriding

Gentle Movement vs. Jarring: While light-to-moderate, regular activity is beneficial, you should ensure that the activity does not cause sharp pain or excessive stress on the abdominal area, especially if you have had recent symptoms.

Individual Tolerance: The key is to engage in regular exercise that you enjoy and that your body tolerates well.

When to Avoid Exercise

If you are experiencing an acute flare-up of diverticulitis (fever, severe abdominal pain), you should avoid strenuous exercise, rest, and follow your doctor’s advice, which often involves a liquid or low-fiber diet.

May 10, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Health | , , , | Leave a comment

Exercise ‘Better Than Drugs’ To Stop Colon Cancer Returning

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

First study of its kind finds that an ‘exercise prescription’ can reduce the chances of colon cancer patients dying from a relapse by a third

These first two paragraphs add more detail.

Exercise can be “better than a drug” for reducing the risk of cancer returning, a study has found.

Patients with advanced colon cancer who received an “exercise prescription” after finishing their cancer treatment were found to be a third less likely to die from the disease.

I find these findings from the The CO21 Challenge trial, partially funded by Cancer Research UK’s Stand Up To Cancer fund, rather remarkable.

The research was led by Christian Booth, of Queen’s University in Canada, which illustrates the international nature of medical research.

On a third reading of the article, I noticed the full implications of this paragraph.

Alongside benefits for colon cancer, Booth said that fewer patients in the active group went on to develop breast cancer, suggesting that there may be an effect on other cancer types too. Of those who received an exercise prescription, only two went on to develop breast cancer, compared with 12 in the control group.

This could be a very significant study, that changes the treatment of cancer.

June 1, 2025 Posted by | Health | , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bulletin – March 7th, 2020

I seem to be getting weaker in my left leg every morning.

Look at this picture of my left toes.

They are all dry with the nails in a bad way.

This second picture shows how the left foot is redder than the right.

I’ve noticed this before in my life and I certainly have a problem with my left knee, which I told my doctor about three months ago. As he suggested it, I now wear a support bandage, which doesn’t seem to help much.

Could it be that the reason I fell last Friday night was that the knee just gave up?

Blood Pressure

I’ve just measured it at 08:10. It was 132/47/75.

An Aside On My Physical Health

Every morning and evening until I had the fall, I used to do twelve sets of physical exercises; including press-ups, Superman stretches and arm openings. I used to finish by standing for twenty seconds straight on each leg.

I can still do the right leg for twenty seconds, but I can’t do more than a few on the left without support.

March 7, 2020 Posted by | Health | , , | 4 Comments

Exercise On The Go In Brussels

I saw this crazy device, called a Workstation, with a guy peddling away on it, in Brussels Midi station.

Exercise On The Go In Brussels

Exercise On The Go In Brussels

I suppose, I could do with a bit more exercise!

June 21, 2013 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , | Leave a comment

It’s Gibbon Time

I took a New Bus for London up to Piccadilly Circus this afternoon and it was surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon.

A Busy New Bus for London

When I got off, I used the rear staircase and I found that the vertical hand holds were alternated for my left and right hands.  So I swung down the bus like a gibbon.  I’m not sure, whether all buses are like that on the top deck.  But if they are not, they should be! The slightly rough texture of the hand holds also gives a good grip for my gammy left hand.

Incidentally, note in the picture, how the handholds slant outwards.  Does this effectively make the gangway wider? Or just appear so?  I must take my tape measure with me to check!

After all, when you are rehabilitating from a stroke, like I am, isn’t it a bit cheaper to get free exercise in everything you do?

May 20, 2012 Posted by | Health, Transport/Travel | , , , , | 2 Comments

Shower and Exercise

My morning regime has changed now that I live alone.

Our/my bedroom used to have a two large wardrobes and since I only need one now, I removed the wardrobe, extended the bathroom and put a walk-in shower in the extra space.  It has no door and is electronically controlled so that I just switch it on and never bother about the temperature.  It has been completely reliable.

After my shower, I perform a set of exercises for my shoulder.  As I said in Bullying, this has almost completely cured the problem, so it is very much worth doing.

But it does set me up for the day.

August 14, 2009 Posted by | Health | | 2 Comments