A study on the physical fitness of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Hyo-Jeong Kwon, You Lim Kim, Hyun Soo Lee and 1 others
PMID 28356614WHAT IT FOUND
Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had lower muscle strength, sit-up endurance, lung capacity, and skeletal muscle mass than healthy controls.
Flexibility was close to age-specific averages in both groups.
Key findings
01Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had lower grasping power and back strength than healthy controls. Grasping power differed significantly in all age groups, and back strength differed significantly for the whole group and the 14 to 16 year-old group.
02The juvenile rheumatoid arthritis group averaged 17.38 sit-ups versus 25.60 in controls, 2.33 L forced vital capacity versus 2.93 L, 1.99 L forced expiratory volume in 1 second versus 2.59 L, 14.85 kg skeletal muscle mass versus 19.63 kg, and 26.73% body fat versus 19.00%.
03Flexibility did not differ significantly between the groups, and both groups were close to age-specific average baselines.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured children at one time and did not test an exercise intervention, so it cannot show that juvenile rheumatoid arthritis caused the fitness differences or that treatment would improve them. The juvenile rheumatoid arthritis group was shorter than the control group, which can affect strength and lung capacity comparisons. The study included only children who could move independently, communicate, follow instructions, and complete the fitness tests, so it may not apply to children with more severe disease or medical instability. The supplied text does not report disease activity, medication, or the results of the functional abilities and health-related quality of life survey.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these group differences as evidence that exercise will improve fitness. The study measured children once and did not compare treatment groups.