The Elm

Researchers at UMSON are studying whether a six-week yoga intervention delivered online/virtually via Zoom reduces abdominal pain among participants with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and if the yoga intervention is associated with shifts in the gut microbiota and microbial-derived metabolites, which may differ among participants with IBS compared with healthy controls. 

You may be eligible to participate if you are 18 to 55 years old, and either have IBS or can serve as a healthy control.  Individuals who choose to participate will complete three online/virtual study visits over the course of approximately 13 weeks, which will include the completion of questionnaires. Participants will also collect biospecimens (saliva and stool samples) at home one time during each of the three study visit intervals, which they mail back to UMSON. Lastly, participants will wear a special wristwatch to measure patterns of physical activity and sleep (Actigraphy) for three, one-week intervals, and complete seven, 24-hour dietary recalls over the course of the study.

All participants receive a six-week, twice-weekly, 60-minute private yoga intervention delivered online/virtually via Zoom, with half the participants receiving the intervention at the beginning of the study, and half receiving the intervention after waiting six weeks. All participants receive weekly emails throughout the 12-week intervention period, asking about levels of pain, medication updates, any issues and content related to the yoga intervention, and any adverse events.

Participants will be mailed everything needed for study participation, including a yoga mat and two blocks, instructions and supplies for biospecimen collection, wristwatch, instructions and supplies for mailing items back to UMSON. Compensation is provided for each research visit and associated biospecimen collection ($100 gift card) for a total of $300.

For more information, call 410-706-7786 or email NRSWeaverlab@umaryland.edu.