Exercise Prescription

Along with doing exercise, always make sure that your child is hydrated and has proper nutrition before, after, and even during exercise! [1]

Diluted sports drinks can be a great way to keep the child hydrated, but use them in moderation.

Ensure your child is eating carbohydrates before exercising. [2] This is for energy.
Protein right after exercise is needed to re-build muscles, along with carbohydrates again a few hours later. [2]
In order to help the child with their endurance ability, make sure that they are eating healthy fats, which provide energy during longer period of exercise. [2]

This exercise prescription incorporates aerobic and anaerobic ways to exercise, and is meant to challenge the child, but not cause pain or injury. [1] If your child is experiencing pain while carrying out the exercise prescription, lower the intensity and time/duration of physical activity.

The exercise prescription is aimed towards children ages 5-11 years of age because most children will be diagnosed with JIA before or during this time. The exercise prescription takes into account potential co-occurring disabilities the child with JIA may have. This age range is also crucial to focus on because children's joints, muscles, and bones are developing very rapidly during this time. [1]

Child Experiencing Mild Symptoms or who is in Remission

Child Experiencing Severe Symptoms or who is having a "Flare Up"

Glossary

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Aerobic Exercise: Exercises that work the heart and lungs and uses oxygen to carry out exercises that require endurance

Anaerobic Exercise: Exercises that strengthen muscle and build speed and power through short, intense bursts of exercise

Rep: The number of times you do a specific exercise (for example: 5 reps of squats means you do 5 squats)

Set: The number of cycles of reps you do (for example: 3 sets of 5 reps of squats means you do 5 squats, take a break and then repeat 2 more times)

References

1. D. Singh-Grewal, V. Wright, O. Bar-Or, and B. Feldman, "Pilot Study of Fitness Training and Exercise Testing in Polyarticular Childhood Arthritis," Arthritis & Rheumatism: Arthritis Care & Research 55, no. 3 (2006): 364-372.

2. Laura Purcell, "Sport Nutrition for Young Athletes," Paediatric Child Health 18, no. 4 (2013): 200-202.