Children and adults with SCD are often told to avoid strenuous exercise to prevent pain crises and further complications. However, it’s common knowledge that exercise has various benefits on both mental and physical health, and that it plays an important role in development. There are currently very few studies that look into the benefits versus the risks of exercising for people with SCD, and that compare the effect of various types of exercise on the disease.
Some studies found that acute exercise can trigger an inflammatory response and increase metabolic acidosis in both children and adults with SCD. On the other hand, consistent exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress and to improve vascular health and general physical function in healthy individuals. There is limited data on the effect of regular exercise on SCD, compared to intense training. More research is required to compile evidence-based guidelines and allow pe