Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2024; 30(27): 3268-3272
Published online Jul 21, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i27.3268
What aspects do we overlook in the rehabilitation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease?
Benil Nesli Ata, Sibel Eyigor
Benil Nesli Ata, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Izmir City Hospital, Izmir 35530, Türkiye
Sibel Eyigor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Türkiye
Author contributions: Eyigor S designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Ata BN contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Eyigor S and Ata BN contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript, illustrations, and review of the literature.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Benil Nesli Ata, MD, Doctor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Izmir City Hospital, Sevket Ince Mah. 2148/11 Sk No. 1/11 Bayrakli/Izmir 35530, Turkiye. drbenilnesli@gmail.com
Received: March 15, 2024
Revised: June 5, 2024
Accepted: June 28, 2024
Published online: July 21, 2024
Processing time: 117 Days and 15.9 Hours
Abstract

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Stafie et al. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constitutes a cluster of chronic and progressive inflammatory disorders affecting the digestive system. IBD can impede an individual’s capacity to perform daily activities, hinder work productivity, limit physical capabilities, and negatively impact medical outcomes. Although physical activity and structured exercise programs are becoming increasingly important in many chronic inflammatory diseases, they are not being sufficiently implemented in IBD patients. Effective prevention of future disability and drug dependence in IBD patients requires timely diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems, including sarcopenia, as well as decreased muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and bone mineral density. To improve treatment outcomes for IBD patients, it is crucial to develop individualized rehabilitation programs tailored to their unique needs. Equally critical is the active participation of pertinent departments in this process. It is imperative to highlight the significance of creating a personalized rehabilitation program with a multidisciplinary approach in IBD management.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Physical activity; Disability; Sarcopenia; Structured exercise; Rehabilitation

Core Tip: Effectively managing clinical issues in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is critical to reducing the risk of long-term disability and facilitating optimal health outcomes. This includes addressing concerns such as decreased bone mineral density, muscle weakness, limited aerobic capacity, and sarcopenia. Customized structured exercise programs should be provided for patients in accordance with their individual needs, considering factors such as joint involvement, frailty, fatigue, and disease activity. Healthcare providers should adopt a multidisciplinary approach to provide personalized exercise recommendations, educate patients, and address misconceptions. This approach improves quality of life, minimizes complications associated with IBD, and enhances treatment success.