Prescription of physical exercise in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise may be potentially beneficial for recovering physical condition and improving quality of life in populations suffering from chronic conditions, but little is known about its effects on patients suffering from Crohn's disease. AIMS: To provide reasonable and conservative recommendations for exercise regimens that appear clinically safe and feasible in patients suffering from Crohn's disease. METHODS: Relevant clinical studies about the effects of physical exercise on Crohn's disease, written in English language and carried out with human subjects were reviewed. RESULTS: Few relevant clinical studies have evaluated the effects of an exercise intervention on patients experiencing Crohn's disease. There seem to be two main types of physical interventions that should be recommended: aerobic activity and muscular resistance training. CONCLUSIONS: Some basic guidelines about how to prescribe physical exercise in Crohn's disease can be provided. However, more research is needed as few studies have been carried out so far.