ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This prospective study was conducted to assess the effect of walking-exercise on the bowel cleansing before colonoscopy and to define subgroup of patients to whom walking-exercise was beneficial. METHODS: Before taking 2.5 L of polyethylene glycol, 393 out-patients were randomized into two groups (G1; walking-exercise, G2; non-exercise) and the amount of walking-exercise was estimated by the step counter. A single colonoscopist performed the procedure with a single-blinded manner and estimated the bowel cleansing. RESULTS: A total of 366 patients were included by per protocol analysis. The number of step count was significantly different between two groups (p<0.000). However, the groups were similar in other data collected. The degree of bowel cleansing between two groups was significantly different (p<0.01). Age, history of abdominal surgery, constipation, obesity and walking- exercise were related to the degree of bowel cleansing. Interestingly, walking-exercise was especially beneficial to patients with age less than 65 years, without history of abdominal surgery, and non-obesity. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that absence of constipation (OR=4.74), walking- exercise (OR=2.04), and younger age (OR=1.97) were independent factors associated with better bowel cleansing. Most of walking patients (97.4%) answered that walking-exercise is more comfortable than taking the solution. CONCLUSIONS: The walking-exercise was of an additional benefit to improve colonoscopic bowel cleansing without significant patients discomfort.