Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2025
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Structural visual metrics associate with moderate to vigorous physical activity in youth with pediatric onset
J Ahmed1, S Stephens1, M Ly1
1The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Division of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Background:
Higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) associate with disease activity in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS). Further, measures of retinal integrity associate with lower brain atrophy, yet the relationship of retinal integrity with MVPA has not been investigated.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between MVPA and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in patients with MS, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disorders (MOGAD), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and monophasic acquired demyelinating syndromes (monoADS).
Methods:
150 consecutive children ≤18 y.o with neuroinflammatory disorders were included. Outcomes included the Godin Leisure Time Activity Questionnaire (GLTEQ) modeled as both a continuous and categorical variable (any vs no MVPA/Strenuous activity), and RNFL and GCIPL using linear mixed models (JASP 0.14.1).
Results:
An association was identified between MVPA with RNFL thickness (F (1,133) = 8.40, p = .004) and GCIPL thickness (F(1, 131) = 7.68, p = .006). In the MS cohort, any strenuous physical activity was associated with greater RNFL (F(1,35) = 7.30, p = .011) and GCIPL thickness (F(1,35) = 8.73, p =.006).
Conclusions:
Any MVPA participation is associated with higher RNFL and GCIPL thickness across neuroinflammatory disorders.
