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The relationship between physical activity levels and pain in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Elizaveta Limenis1, Haddas A Grosbein, Brian M Feldman
1From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Department of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Physical activity declines with age in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Lower activity levels correlate with increased pain severity and interference, suggesting activity interventions may help manage JIA pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Sports Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) commonly presents with pain and reduced physical activity.
- The role of physical activity in managing JIA pain lacks established consensus.
- Adolescent JIA patients often experience limitations in daily activities due to pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and pain in children and adolescents diagnosed with JIA.
- To determine if physical activity influences pain severity, number of painful areas, and pain interference in JIA patients.
- To explore the impact of age and sex on physical activity and pain in the JIA population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 50 patients with JIA (ages 11-18) was surveyed using mailed questionnaires.
- Physical activity was quantified using the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ).
- Pain assessment involved the Numerical Rating Scale, SUPER-KIDZ body diagram, and Child Activities Limitations Inventory-21; generalized linear models analyzed relationships.
Main Results:
- A response rate of 84% yielded 34 completed questionnaires; median age was 15 years.
- Physical activity levels (mean PAQ score 2.16/5) significantly decreased with increasing age (r = 0.53, p = 0.0014).
- Lower physical activity was significantly associated with greater pain interference (r = 0.39, p = 0.0217) and higher pain severity (r = 0.35, p = 0.0422).
Conclusions:
- Children with JIA exhibit lower physical activity compared to healthy peers, with a notable decline during adolescence.
- A significant inverse relationship exists between physical activity and both pain interference and severity in JIA.
- Findings support the potential efficacy of physical activity interventions for managing pain in pediatric patients with JIA.
Objective:
Pain and reduced physical activity levels are common in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Currently, there is no consensus about the role of physical activity in managing pain in JIA. The purpose of our study was to assess the relationship between physical activity level and pain in children ages 11 to 18 years with JIA.
Methods:
A random sample of 50 patients with JIA were approached by mailed questionnaires. Physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ). Pain measures included the Numerical Rating Scale (pain severity), SUPER-KIDZ body diagram (number of painful areas), and the Child Activities Limitations Inventory-21 (pain interference). Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationship between physical activity and pain, as well as the roles of sex and age.
Results:
The response rate was 84%. Thirty-four respondents completed the questionnaire package. The median age was 15 years. The mean PAQ score was 2.16/5. Physical activity declines with increasing age in youth with JIA (r = 0.53, p = 0.0014). Lower physical activity is associated with greater pain interference (r = 0.39, p = 0.0217) and more severe pain (r = 0.35, p = 0.0422).
Conclusion:
Children with JIA report significantly less activity than healthy children based on PAQ scores, with physical activity declining throughout adolescence. Physical activity is inversely related to pain interference and severity in children with JIA. Our findings suggest that physical activity interventions may play an important role in the management of pain in JIA.
