Physical Activity | juvenilearthritis

Impact of JIA on Physical Activity

If your child has JIA, it is likely that he/she has difficulty staying active.

Joint pain and a reduced range of motion can prevent children from participating to their full extent, but this does NOT mean that they should not engage in regular physical activity. [1]
You may find that your child tires more easily, has reduced strength during exercise, and displays low levels of endurance. [2]

When children struggle with physical activity, their confidence and self-efficacy go down , leading to further avoidance of exercise, because they may think they are not good enough, resulting in a vicious cycle. [2]
Physical activity can be further reduced by parental concerns, medication side-effects, and "flare ups". [1]

Impact of Physical Activity on JIA

All children need to engage in regular physical activity.

Benefits of an Individualized Exercise Plans in Children with JIA [3]:

Reduced joint pain
Increased muscle strength
Reduced destruction of tissues
Increased energy levels
Increased bone health
Lower risk of obesity and heart disease
Potential reduced medication use
Social benefits from group activities and increased self-efficacy

With careful monitoring, proper nutrition and hydration during exercise, children with JIA can participate in physical activity, within what they are comfortable with and according to their disease severity.

When your child has less severe symptoms or is in remission, he/she will be able to engage in MOST physical activities, but likely at a lesser intensity, frequency, and duration. [3]

If your child is experiencing a "flare up" or has more severe or progressive symptoms (including very strong joint pain), exercise should be monitored more closely and certain activities should be avoided, which can be found by clicking the button "Activities to Avoid".

Activities to Avoid

Glossary

Range of Motion: The full potential movement of a joint, from being bent to fully extended

Self-Efficacy: One's sense of their ability to succeed at a task

References

1. Wineke Armbrust et al., "Fatigue in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Relationship to Perceived Health, Physical Health, Self-Efficacy, and Participation," Pediatric Rheumatology 14, no. 65 (2016): 1-9.

2. Joyce Bos, Otto Lelieveld, Winike Armbrust, Pieter Sauer, Jan Geertzen, and Pieter Dijkstra, "Physical Activity in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Compared to Controls," Pediatric Rheumatology 14, no. 42 (2016): 1-8.

3. John Philpott, Kristin Houghton, and Anthony Luke, “Physical Activity Recommendations for children with Specific Chronic Health Conditions: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Hemophilia, Asthma, and Cystic Fibrosis,” Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 20, no. 3, (2010): 167-172.