title: Promoting physical activity in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis through an internet-based program: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are less physically active than healthy peers. Therefore, we developed an Internet-based intervention to improve physical activity (PA). The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the program in improving PA.
  
  
  METHODS
  PA was determined by activity-related energy expenditure, PA level, time spent on moderate to vigorous PA, and the number of days with > or =1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity, and was assessed with a 7-day activity diary. Aerobic exercise capacity was assessed by means of a Bruce treadmill test and was recorded as maximum endurance time. Disease activity was assessed by using the JIA core set. Adherence was electronically monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 59 patients, 33 eligible patients were included and randomized in an intervention (n = 17, mean +/- SD age 10.6 +/- 1.5 years) or control waiting-list group (n = 16, mean +/- SD age 10.8 +/- 1.4 years). All patients completed baseline and T1 testing. PA significantly improved in both groups. Maximum endurance time significantly improved in the intervention group but not in the control group. In a subgroup analysis for patients with low PA (intervention: n = 7, control: n = 5), PA improved in the intervention group but not in the control group. The intervention was safe, feasible, and showed a good adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An Internet-based program for children with JIA ages 8-12 years directed at promoting PA in daily life effectively improves PA in those patients with low PA levels. It is also able to improve endurance and it is safe, feasible, and has good adherence.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. o.t.h.m.lelieveld@rev.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Otto T H M
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Lelieveld
authors.forename: Wineke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Armbrust
authors.forename: Jan H B
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: Miek A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Pieter J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Weert
authors.forename: Jelte
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouma
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome