Abstract Aim This study aimed to assess the potential role of physical activity (PA) in reducing the risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and in their management. Subject and methods A systematic review of literature was conducted up to October 2023 using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Observational studies, semi-experimental and experimental studies reporting PA effects were considered eligible. Data on disease status and PA characteristics, main outcomes and possible confounders were collected in a database. The Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Results Of the 29 articles included, six investigated PA and risk of IBDs and four of them showed an inverse relationship. Among the others, seven reported positive effects of PA on IBD symptoms, while all showed improvements in comorbidities, complications and quality of life. Conclusion PA seems to be effective in preventing or treating IBDs and their complications. Owing to the low quality of the majority of the studies and their heterogeneity, further research is needed to better understand which type and level of PA may be useful in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.