Investigation of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case–Control Study

Swelling, effusion, tenderness, and pain seen in the joints of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This disease may cause limitation in joint movements, muscle weakness, atrophy, balance, and gait disorders. Physical fitness is accepted as an important determinant of health in both childhood and adolescence. The aim was to evaluate the physical fitness of children/adolescents with JIA and compare it with healthy peers. Seventy children/adolescents were included (35 JIA and 35 healthy). The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Brockport physical fitness test battery were used for evaluation. The Brockport physical fitness test battery consists of dominant handgrip strength, curl-up, push-up, trunk lift, shoulder stretch, sit and reach tests, skinfold thickness (calf/triceps/subscapular) measurements, and PACER 20 m test. A significant difference was found in all sub-parameters of CHAQ (P < .05) and dominant hand grip strength (P = .037), curl-up test (P < .001), trunk lift test (P = .018), shoulder stretch (P < .001) and PACER 20 m test (P < .001) tests in favor of the healthy group. Children/adolescents with JIA demonstrated lower performance compared to their healthy peers in muscular and cardiovascular capacity tests (curl-up test, PACER 20 m test, trunk lift test, dominant hand grip strength test, and shoulder stretch test). Their functional abilities are more impaired, and they experience higher levels of pain and lower levels of general well-being compared to healthy peers.