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Accelerometry-based monitoring of daily physical activity in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
M Nørgaard1, M Twilt2, L B Andersen3
1a Department of Physiotherapy , Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus , Denmark.
Insights
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are less physically active and have lower fitness levels than healthy peers. This reduced physical activity (PA) is linked to disease activity and joint involvement, even with good disease control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Sports Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can lead to functional limitations and reduced physical activity (PA), potentially causing physical deconditioning.
- Objective monitoring of PA in children with JIA is crucial for understanding disease impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively monitor daily free-living PA in children aged 10-16 with JIA using accelerometry.
- To compare PA levels in JIA patients with healthy, age- and gender-matched controls.
- To investigate the relationship between PA and disease activity, physical variables, and joint involvement.
Main Methods:
- Utilized accelerometry (GT1M ActiGraph) to assess daily PA in 61 JIA patients and compared data with 2055 healthy schoolchildren.
- Evaluated JIA patients for disease activity, functional ability, physical capacity, and pain.
Main Results:
- JIA patients exhibited lower accelerometer counts (indicating less PA) compared to controls.
- 57% of JIA patients had below-average maximal physical capacity.
- PA negatively correlated with disease activity markers (ESR, joint swelling/ROM), but not pain or functional ability.
- Ankle or hip joint involvement was associated with significantly lower PA levels.
Conclusions:
- Children with JIA demonstrate reduced PA and lower physical capacity than healthy peers, irrespective of good disease control.
- Lower PA in JIA patients is associated with disease activity and specific joint involvement (hips/ankles).
Objectives:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may cause functional impairment, reduced participation in physical activity (PA) and, over time, physical deconditioning. The aim of this study was to objectively monitor daily free-living PA in 10-16-year-old children with JIA using accelerometry with regard to disease activity and physical variables and to compare the data with those from healthy age- and gender-matched controls.
Method:
Patients underwent an evaluation of disease activity, functional ability, physical capacity, and pain. Accelerometer monitoring was assessed using the GT1M ActiGraph. Normative data from two major studies on PA in Danish schoolchildren were used for comparison.
Results:
Data of accelerometry were available for 61 JIA patients and 2055 healthy controls. Of the JIA patients, 57% showed below-average values of maximal physical capacity (fitness level). JIA patients showed low disease activity and pain and were physically well functioning. Accelerometer counts were lower in JIA patients than in controls. Accelerometer measurements were negatively correlated with disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and number of joints with swelling and/or limited range of motion (ROM). No correlation was found between PA and pain scores, functional ability, and hypermobility. Patients with involvement of ankles or hips demonstrated significantly lower levels of PA.
Conclusions:
Children with JIA are less physically active and have lower physical capacity and fitness than their age- and gender-matched healthy peers despite good disease control. The involvement of hips or ankles is associated with lower PA.
