Refining physical exercise training studies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: patient selection and assessment of physical fitness changes

With interest we read the study protocol of the IBD-FITT study by Lund et al., an open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effects of a 12-week aerobic moderate-intensity physical exercise training program for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and moderate disease activity [1]. [...]future research should prioritize the development and validation of such screening tools and assessment methods. [...]the precise mechanism underlying these changes requires a nuanced analysis. Within the design of such studies, we believe it is crucial to investigate whether an increase in physical fitness as a result of the intervention correlates with improved (patient-reported) health outcomes in order to provide more compelling evidence on the specific advantages of physical exercise training in the IBD population.