title: Relationship between functional ability and physical fitness in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen children with JIA (age 7 to 14 yr., 3 male/15 female) performed a maximal aerobic exercise test and a Wingate anaerobic exercise test. Functional ability was concurrently assessed using the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A low relationship between aerobic fitness and functional ability was found (r = 0.0 to 0.4, p > 0.05, except for eating r = 0.46, p < 0.05). The correlations between anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability in JIA patients were strong (r = 0.5 to 0.75, p < 0.05). This indicated a good relationship between anaerobic fitness and functional ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong association between anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability showed the importance of anaerobic physical fitness for children with JIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, University Hospital for Children and Youth 'Hat Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis', University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. t.takken@wkz.azu.nl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takken
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Net
authors.forename: P J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Helders
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life