Adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) search for self-management strategies to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life (QOL). Physical activity (PA) is one of the self-management strategies widely adopted by adults with IBD. This integrative review aimed to synthesize the evidence on health outcomes of PA in adults with IBD as well as to identify the barriers to engaging in PA. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), published literature was searched to identify the articles that addressed PA in adults with IBD. Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Many of the reviewed studies used the terms of PA and exercise interchangeably. Walking was the most common PA reported in the studies. The findings from the majority of the reviewed studies supported the benefits of moderate-intensity exercise/PA among adults with IBD. The reviewed studies noted the following positive health outcomes of PA: improvement in QOL, mental health, sleep quality, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue and cardiorespiratory fitness. More importantly, participation in PA reduced the risk for development of IBD and the risk for future active disease. The findings from the reviewed studies highlighted the following barriers to engage in PA: fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, bowel urgency, active disease and depression.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Trends and Factors Related to Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Sihyun Kim, Yu Kyung Jun, Yonghoon Choi, Cheol Min Shin, Young Soo Park, Nayoung Kim, Dong Ho Lee, Hyuk Yoon Gut and Liver.2025; 19(2): 236. CrossRef
Management of Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review Dan-Dan Wang, Shi-Guang Ren, Rui Hu, Hui-Lan Zhai, Fen Xie, Lu Jiang, Wen-Lei Huang, Xue-Qin Li International Journal of General Medicine.2025; Volume 18: 1403. CrossRef
Validity and Reliability of the Self‐Care of Chronic Illness Inventory in Patients Living With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Daniele Napolitano, Valentina Biagioli, Davide Bartoli, Silvia Cilluffo, Piergiorgio Martella, Alessandro Monaci, Ercole Vellone, Antonello Cocchieri Journal of Clinical Nursing.2025; 34(11): 4642. CrossRef
A review of the link between psychological stress and inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation Annelise Klettner, Shanhong Luo, Laura D. Coyle, Nathan Liu Academia Mental Health and Well-Being.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Effectiveness of an app-based walking program for obese patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Korea: a single-blind parallel-group randomized clinical trial Young Jin Lee, Eun Ja Kwon, Da-In Park, Sang Hyoung Park, Sung Wook Hwang, Byong Duk Ye BMC Gastroenterology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
A Population-Based Assessment of Physical Activity and Exercise in Persons With IBD Sydney Chochinov, Casandra Dolovich, Gia Ly, Adebanke Oketola, Samuel Narvey, Maitreyi Raman, Sandra Webber, Charles N. Bernstein Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Patterns and Correlates of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Individuals With Crohn’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study Jason J Wilson, Barry Lynch, Nathan Graham, Conor M McClean, Mark A Tully Crohn's & Colitis 360.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Physical activity among people with an inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of antecedents Cameron Trim, Sharan Srinivasa Gopalan, Ryan Rhodes Psychology, Health & Medicine.2025; : 1. CrossRef
Behaviour Change Considerations to Promote Physical Activity Participation among Individuals with Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Barriers and Facilitators Banke Oketola, Sandra Webber, Harminder Singh, Maia Kredentser, Kristin Reynolds, Gayle Restall Advances in Rehabilitation Science and Practice.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Qualitative Exploration of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity and Exercise in Children and Adolescents With Crohn’s—Perspectives of Young People, Caregivers, and Clinicians Zoe L. Saynor, Nadeem A. Afzal, Christopher Roberts, Kelly A. Mackintosh, Danielle Lambrick, James Faulkner, Will Freer, Elena Kurteva, Thierry Middleton, Heather Hunter Pediatric Exercise Science.2025; : 1. CrossRef
Physical Activity and Education in the Care of IBD: The Role of the Physiotherapist—A Narrative Review Zita Kovács, Péter Bacsur, Blanka Bernadett Kasza, Tamás Molnár, Andrea Domján Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(23): 8602. CrossRef
Abdominally targeted physical exercises as a therapeutic intervention for inflammatory bowel diseases Lael Werner, Rony Izhar, Morine Fibelman, Izislav Shapiro, Andrei Siderskyi, Yuri Ostrinski, Haim Leibovitzh, Nathaniel Aviv Cohen, Ayal Hirsch, Yulia Ron, Naomi Fliss Isakov, Nitsan Maharshak Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Advances in the Application of Digital Health Technologies in the Management of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Jing Yuan, Dandan Zhao The American Surgeon™.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Physical activity, sedentary behavior and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank Siqin Xia, Jie Zhang, Zixing Zhang, Xiang Wang, Dongqing Ye, Xinyu Fang BMC Public Health.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The complex relationship between physical activity and fatigue with socioeconomic status, and mental health factors in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease Casandra Dolovich, Sydney Chochinov, Gia Ly, Banke Oketola, Sam Narvey, Sydney Larance, Maitreiy Raman, Sandra C Webber, Charles N Bernstein Journal of Crohn's and Colitis.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Physical Activity Is Inversely Associated with Clinical Exacerbation in Patients with Crohn’s Disease in Remission: A Prospective Cohort Study Chen Sarbagili-Shabat, Shira Zelber-Sagi, Naomi Fliss Isakov, Ayal Hirsch, Yulia Ron, Laura Sol Grinshpan, Nathaniel Aviv Cohen, Haim Leibovitzh, Tamar Thurm, Nitsan Maharshak Digestive Diseases.2025; : 1. CrossRef
Physical exercises as an effective adjuvant therapy of IBD in remission (review) S. V. Kostyukevich, I. G. Bakulin Koloproktologia.2024; 23(1): 152. CrossRef
Bridging the gap: Unveiling the crisis of physical inactivity in inflammatory bowel diseases Remus Stafie, Ana-Maria Singeap, Adrian Rotaru, Carol Stanciu, Anca Trifan World Journal of Gastroenterology.2024; 30(10): 1261. CrossRef
Progress in research of exercise intervention in inflammatory bowel disease Shao-Peng Sun, Jia-Jia Chen, Ming-Xu Zheng, Yi-Hong Fan, Bin Lv World Chinese Journal of Digestology.2024; 32(5): 339. CrossRef
Unresolved conundrum of the role of physical activity in irritable bowel disease: What next? Nilakantan Ananthakrishnan World Journal of Gastroenterology.2024; 30(21): 2744. CrossRef
Metabolic and lifestyle factors accelerate disease onset and alter gut microbiome in inflammatory non-communicable diseases Nathalie Rohmann, Theresa Geese, Samantha Nestel, Kristina Schlicht, Corinna Geisler, Kathrin Türk, Fynn Brix, Julia Jensen-Kroll, Tobias Demetrowitsch, Corinna Bang, Andre Franke, Wolfgang Lieb, Dominik M. Schulte, Karin Schwarz, Anne-Kathrin Ruß, Arunab BMC Medicine.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Too Many Couch Potatoes Among Middle-Aged Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Findings from the “BE-FIT-IBD-2” Study Antonietta Gerarda Gravina, Raffaele Pellegrino, Giovanna Palladino, Annalisa Zanini, Alessandro Federico, Fabiana Zingone Gastroenterology Insights.2024; 15(4): 963. CrossRef
Activité physique et MICI Xavier Hébuterne Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme.2024; 38(4): 217. CrossRef
Chronic Abdominal Pain in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Remission: A Continuing Challenge for Clinicians Natasha Klemm, Sarvee Moosavi Digestive Diseases and Sciences.2024; 69(12): 4336. CrossRef
Mechanisms of Insulin Signaling as a Potential Therapeutic Method in Intestinal Diseases Sara Jarmakiewicz-Czaja, Aneta Sokal-Dembowska, Katarzyna Ferenc, Rafał Filip Cells.2024; 13(22): 1879. CrossRef
Adjunct Therapies to Standard Care for IBS and IBD Patients: Digestive Symptoms Improvement and Quality of Life Optimization Veronique Traynard Nutrients.2024; 16(22): 3927. CrossRef
Unlocking the Power of Physical Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review Jiajia Chen, Shaopeng Sun, Andrew S. Day Gastroenterology Research and Practice.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
The impact of physical exercise on health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease Ayokunle T Abegunde, Daniela Goyes, Umer Farooq, Amy H Luke, Elizabeth Huggins, Richard S Cooper, Lara R Dugas Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Patients’ perspectives on, experience with and concerns about crohn's disease: insights from Chinese social media Shaopeng Sun, Yunhong Hu, Heng Li, Jiajia Chen, Yijie Lou, Chunyan Weng, Lixia Chen, Bin Lv BMC Gastroenterology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Fecal Calprotectin in Gastrointestinal Disease Jennifer Murray, Klaartje B Kok, Ruth M Ayling Clinical Chemistry.2023; 69(7): 699. CrossRef
Physical activity, quality of diet and bone mineral density in patients with inflammatory bowel disease Alicja E. Ratajczak‐Pawłowska, Michał Michalak, Aleksandra Szymczak‐Tomczak, Anna Maria Rychter, Agnieszka Zawada, Kinga Skoracka, Agnieszka Dobrowolska, Iwona Krela‐Kaźmierczak Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.2023; 36(5): 1692. CrossRef
Physical Activity in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Scoping Review Lee Hill, Noushin Roofigari, Maria Faraz, Jelena Popov, Michal Moshkovich, Melanie Figueiredo, Emily Hartung, Meryem Talbo, Marie-Laure Lalanne-Mistrih, Mary Sherlock, Mary Zachos, Brian W. Timmons, Joyce Obeid, Nikhil Pai Pediatric Exercise Science.2023; : 1. CrossRef
Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity: The “BE-FIT-IBD” study Antonietta Gerarda Gravina, Raffaele Pellegrino, Tommaso Durante, Giovanna Palladino, Rossella D’Onofrio, Simone Mammone, Giusi Arboretto, Salvatore Auletta, Giuseppe Imperio, Andrea Ventura, Mario Romeo, Alessandro Federico World Journal of Gastroenterology.2023; 29(41): 5668. CrossRef
Effects of yoga in inflammatory bowel diseases and on frequent IBD-associated extraintestinal symptoms like fatigue and depression E. Wilke, W. Reindl, P.A. Thomann, M.P. Ebert, T. Wuestenberg, A.K. Thomann Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.2021; 45: 101465. CrossRef
Physical Activity in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Review Maitreyi Raman, Vidya Rajagopalan, Sandeep Kaur, Raylene A Reimer, Christopher Ma, Subrata Ghosh, Jeff Vallance Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
The patient-physician relationship has a pivotal impact on the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) outcomes. However, there are many challenges in the patient-physician relationship; lag time in diagnosis which results in frustration and an anchoring bias against the treating gastroenterologist, the widespread availability of medical information on the internet has resulted in patients having their own ideas of treatment, which may be incongruent from the treating physicians’ goals resulting in patient physician discordance. Because IBD is an incurable disease, the goal of treatment is to sustain remission. To achieve this, patients may have to go through several lines of treatment. The period of receiving stepping up, top down or even accelerated stepping up medications may result in a lot of frustration and anxiety for the patient and may compromise the patient-physician relationship. IBD patients are also prone to psychological distress that further compromises the patient-physician relationship. Despite numerous published data regarding the medical and surgical treatment options available for IBD, there is a lack of data regarding methods to improve the therapeutic patient-physician relationship. In this review article, we aim to encapsulate the challenges faced in the patient-physician relationship and ways to overcome in for an improved outcome in IBD.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Management of inflammatory bowel disease: a holistic approach beyond pharmacotherapy Najwa F. Mourad, Jana G. Hashash, Viraj C. Kariyawasam, Fadi H. Mourad Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.2025; 19(6): 671. CrossRef
Impact of Psychopathology and Gut Microbiota on Disease Progression in Ulcerative Colitis: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study Franco Scaldaferri, Antonio Maria D’Onofrio, Elena Chiera, Adrian Gomez-Nguyen, Gaspare Filippo Ferrajoli, Federica Di Vincenzo, Valentina Petito, Lucrezia Laterza, Daniela Pugliese, Daniele Napolitano, Elisa Schiavoni, Giorgia Spagnolo, Daniele Ferrarese Microorganisms.2025; 13(6): 1208. CrossRef
Personalize, participate, predict, and prevent: 4Ps in inflammatory bowel disease Marco Vincenzo Lenti, Maria Lia Scribano, Livia Biancone, Rachele Ciccocioppo, Daniela Pugliese, Luca Pastorelli, Gionata Fiorino, Edoardo Savarino, Flavio Andrea Caprioli, Sandro Ardizzone, Massimo Claudio Fantini, Gian Eugenio Tontini, Ambrogio Orlando, Frontiers in Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Notable gaps between patients’ and physicians’ perspectives on communication and disease management in Japan: multifaceted ad hoc analyses of the global Ulcerative Colitis Narrative Survey for further optimal care Kenji Watanabe, Sean Gardiner, Shoko Arai Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Ulcerative Colitis Narrative Global Survey Findings: The Impact of Living With Ulcerative Colitis—Patients’ and Physicians’ View Marla C Dubinsky, Kenji Watanabe, Pauliina Molander, Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet, Michele Rubin, Gil Y Melmed, J Jasper Deuring, John Woolcott, Joseph C Cappelleri, Kathy Steinberg, Susan Connor Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.2021; 27(11): 1747. CrossRef
Physician–patient communication affects patient satisfaction in treatment decision-making: a structural equation modelling analysis of a web-based survey in patients with ulcerative colitis Katsuyoshi Matsuoka, Hirono Ishikawa, Takeo Nakayama, Yusuke Honzawa, Atsuo Maemoto, Fumihito Hirai, Fumiaki Ueno, Noriko Sato, Yutaka Susuta, Toshifumi Hibi Journal of Gastroenterology.2021; 56(9): 843. CrossRef