Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2023 Jul 24;36(1):44-56. doi: 10.1123/pes.2022-0078.Print 2024 Feb 1.

Lee Hill ^1 2, Noushin Roofigari ³, Maria Faraz ⁴, Jelena Popov ¹, Michal Moshkovich ^1 5, Melanie Figueiredo ^1 5, Emily Hartung ¹, Meryem Talbo ⁶, Marie-Laure Lalanne-Mistrih ^7 8 9, Mary Sherlock ^1 8, Mary Zachos ^1 8, Brian W Timmons ¹⁰, Joyce Obeid ¹⁰, Nikhil Pai ^1 11

Author information

¹Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,Canada.

²Department of Endocrinology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC,Canada.

³Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC,Canada.

⁴Department of Pathology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY,USA.

⁵Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,Canada.

⁶School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, QC,Canada.

⁷Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Montreal, QC,Canada.

⁸Department of Nutrition, University Hospital of Guadeloupe, Pointe-à-Pitre,France.

⁹UFR of Medicine, University of French West Indies, Abymes, Guadeloupe,France.

¹⁰Child Health and Exercise Medicine Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,Canada.

¹¹Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,Canada.

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, systemic condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract. IBD can be severe and are associated with impairment in growth, school absences, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Physical activity (PA) could have an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to other benefits. It is important to address the possible risks, physiological effects of PA, and potential barriers, and facilitators for PA participation in pediatric IBD. However, potential barriers and facilitators to PA have yet to be adequately described.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review to map and describe the current literature on PA in pediatric IBD populations between 1980 and April 2022 using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines for Scoping reviews.

Results: Nineteen articles were identified including 10 descriptive, 6 interventional, and 3 physiological responses to PA studies. Patients and healthy controls demonstrated similar responses to exercise. Barriers to participation were low self-esteem, body image, and active IBD symptoms. Facilitators included personal interest, activity with friends, and support from family.

Conclusion: This review highlighted that PA participation may reduce in children with IBD-related symptoms. Short- and medium-term impacts of PA on immune modulation require further study; it is possible that regular PA does not negatively affect biomarkers of disease activity.