Current concepts: recognition and management of common activity-related gastrointestinal disorders. 2009

Scott A Paluska
Department of Family Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. paluska@illinois.edu

Sports medicine clinicians may encounter a wide variety of activity-related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The advancing ages and burgeoning obesity rates of the US population have generally increased the prevalence of GI conditions among adults. However, conditioned younger athletes with normal body mass indices also may experience disquieting activity-related GI disorders. While often mild and transient, some of these GI conditions may disrupt exercise routines or pose significant health risks to affected individuals. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs frequently during physical activity and should be empirically treated with activity reduction and dietary modifications in conjunction with antisecretory agents. Persistent or worrisome symptoms merit upper endoscopy, a thorough evaluation for non-GI causes and, rarely, surgery. Altered GI motility commonly occurs during vigorous activities that use dynamic or fluctuating body positions. Dietary and exercise modifications are usually enough to resolve these symptoms. Physical activity may also precipitate GI bleeding from upper and/or lower sources. Although mild or occult bleeding is most common, significant bleeding merits a thorough diagnostic evaluation after stabilization and treatment. Adequate hydration and gradual exercise progression may be particularly helpful to prevent the recurrence of bleeding. The judicious use of medications in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug avoidance may also be necessary. Fortunately, most activity-related GI disorders are self-limited and can be managed conservatively. After a brief period of modified activity, clinically stable individuals may progress their activity levels as symptoms allow.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005764 Gastroesophageal Reflux Retrograde flow of gastric juice (GASTRIC ACID) and/or duodenal contents (BILE ACIDS; PANCREATIC JUICE) into the distal ESOPHAGUS, commonly due to incompetence of the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER. Esophageal Reflux,Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease,GERD,Gastric Acid Reflux,Gastric Acid Reflux Disease,Gastro-Esophageal Reflux,Gastro-oesophageal Reflux,Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease,Reflux, Gastroesophageal,Acid Reflux, Gastric,Gastro Esophageal Reflux,Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease,Gastro oesophageal Reflux,Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Diseases,Reflux Disease, Gastro-Esophageal,Reflux, Gastric Acid,Reflux, Gastro-Esophageal,Reflux, Gastro-oesophageal
D005767 Gastrointestinal Diseases Diseases in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM. Cholera Infantum,Gastrointestinal Disorders,Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders,Gastrointestinal Disorders, Functional,Disease, Gastrointestinal,Diseases, Gastrointestinal,Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder,Gastrointestinal Disease,Gastrointestinal Disorder,Gastrointestinal Disorder, Functional
D005769 Gastrointestinal Motility The motor activity of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Intestinal Motility,Gastrointestinal Motilities,Intestinal Motilities,Motilities, Gastrointestinal,Motilities, Intestinal,Motility, Gastrointestinal,Motility, Intestinal
D006471 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Bleeding in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM. Hematochezia,Hemorrhage, Gastrointestinal,Gastrointestinal Hemorrhages,Hematochezias
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D013177 Sports Activities or games, usually involving physical effort or skill. Reasons for engagement in sports include pleasure, competition, and/or financial reward. Athletics,Athletic,Sport
D013178 Sports Medicine The field of medicine concerned with physical fitness and the diagnosis and treatment of injuries sustained in exercise and sports activities. Medicine, Sport,Medicine, Sports,Sport Medicine
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences

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