Development and evaluation of a single value score to assess global range of motion in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Musculoskeletal Health
• Clinical Assessment Tools

Background:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting children.
• Joint range of motion limitations are a significant concern in JIA, impacting physical function.
• Existing measures may not comprehensively capture global joint involvement in JIA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a Global Range of Motion Score (GROMS) for children with active JIA.
• To assess the association between the GROMS and physical function in pediatric JIA patients.
• To establish a simple, reliable tool for monitoring joint health in JIA.

Main Methods:

• Two versions of the GROMS were developed: one assessing 56 joints and another focusing on 10 joints identified as functionally critical.
• The study included 50 pediatric patients diagnosed with active JIA.
• Physical function and disability were assessed using the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ).

Main Results:

• Both the 56-joint and 10-joint GROMS demonstrated strong agreement with each other.
• A significant negative correlation was observed between the GROMS (both versions) and the CHAQ scores (r = -0.52 and -0.62).
• This indicates that higher joint range of motion limitation corresponds to greater disability.

Conclusions:

• The 10-joint GROMS is a practical and user-friendly instrument for evaluating overall changes in joint range of motion in JIA.
• The GROMS effectively reflects the impact of joint mobility on physical function in children with JIA.
• This score can aid in clinical assessment and management of pediatric patients with JIA.