Publication Name	World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID	118105
Country	China

Category	Genetics & Heredity
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Role of physical therapy in irritable bowel syndrome: Current strategies and prospective options
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Jing Chai, Zhen-Yi Wang, Zhi-Jun Weng, Zi-Jun Zhang, Lu-Yi Wu, Fang Zhang, Lu-Lu Cao, Zi-Yi Chen, Huan-Gan Wu and Hui-Rong Liu
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program) 82374588 Special Project for Smart Healthcare of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 2025ZHYL016 Medical New Technology Research and Transformation Seed Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 2024ZZ2060 “Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan” Rising-Star (Sailing Program) of Shanghai 23YF1442100
Corresponding Author	Hui-Rong Liu, Professor, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai 200030, China. lhr_tcm@139.com
Key Words	Irritable bowel syndrome; Physical therapy; Non-pharmacological treatment; Exercise therapy; Acupuncture
Core Tip	Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by impaired brain-gut communication, visceral hypersensitivity, immune activation, and autonomic imbalance. Physical therapies—including electrical stimulation, acupuncture, and mechanotherapy—have shown potential in modulating these interconnected pathways. This review discusses the neuromodulatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms underlying physical therapy, highlighting its capacity to reduce abdominal pain, normalize bowel motility, and restore gut-brain homeostasis. By concurrently targeting multiple physiological systems, physical therapy represents a multi-mechanistic, non-pharmacological approach for IBS, offering new strategies for symptom management and improving patients’ quality of life.
Citation	Irritable bowel syndrome; Physical therapy; Non-pharmacological treatment; Exercise therapy; Acupuncture

Received	2025-12-24 06:12
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-24 06:12
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-08 09:50
Return for Revision	2026-01-08 09:50
Revised	2026-01-21 09:34
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-01-23 07:32
Second Decision by Editor	2026-04-13 02:41
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-13 10:19
Articles in Press	2026-04-13 10:19
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
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