Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Physical activity in children aged 7-13 years with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Is it significantly altered? A
Marta Szyszko1, Marcin Kożuchowski2, Aneta Woźniak1
1Department of Rehabilitation, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) show similar after-school physical activity (PA) to healthy peers but are more often exempt from physical education (PE). Reconsidering PE exemptions for JIA patients is suggested.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic childhood inflammatory disease linked to joint damage.
- JIA's pathogenesis involves genetic, immunological, and environmental factors, leading to abnormal immune responses.
- Pain and swelling in JIA can impair mobility and reduce physical activity (PA) in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if JIA influences the selection of physical activities in children aged 7-13 years.
- To compare the physical activity patterns of children with JIA versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Study involved children diagnosed with JIA and age/sex-matched healthy controls.
- Data collected via anonymous, self-administered questionnaires.
- Statistical analysis included the chi-squared test (p < 0.05 significance).
Main Results:
- The JIA group (29 children) had a median age of 11, with 66% girls.
- The control group (20 children) had a median age of 9.5, with 55% girls.
- Children with JIA were less likely to attend physical education (PE) (59% vs. 100%). Martial arts were the only after-school PA more frequent in healthy children (p=0.033).
- No significant differences in screen time (TV/computer use) were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- After-school physical activity levels are comparable between children with JIA and healthy peers.
- Children with JIA are significantly more likely to receive complete exemptions from PE.
- The necessity of full PE exemptions for JIA patients warrants reconsideration given unchanged after-school activity.
Introduction:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in children under 16 years of age, often associated with joint damage. The etiopathogenesis of JIA involves an abnormal immune response triggered by the interaction of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Pain and swelling associated with JIA can lead to mobility issues and reduced physical activity (PA). Regular PA, tailored to the child's current health and functional status, is recommended for JIA patients. We aimed to assess whether JIA influences the choice of PA in children aged 7-13 years.
Material And Methods:
The study group consisted of children diagnosed with JIA, while the control group included age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica program, with the χ2 test and a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results:
The study group included 29 children with JIA (median age 11 years, range 9-12), consisting of 19 girls (66%) and 10 boys (34%), and the control group included 20 healthy volunteers (median age 9.5 years, range 7.5-12), consisting of 11 girls (55%) and 9 boys (45%). In the JIA group, 17 children (59%) attended physical education (PE) lessons, compared to 20 (100%) in the control group. The only after-school PA significantly more frequently performed by healthy children was martial arts (p = 0.033). No significant differences were observed in the time spent watching TV (p = 0.86) or using a computer (p = 0.46).
Conclusions:
There is little difference in after-school PA between children with JIA and their healthy peers. However, children with JIA are significantly more likely to be completely exempted from PE. Given that their after-school activity remains unchanged, the necessity of complete PE exemptions for JIA patients should be reconsidered.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
02:57Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
01:26Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
01:30Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes...
01:06Altered States of Awareness
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...