title: Regular aerobic training combined with range of motion exercises in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of regular aerobic training combined with range of motion (ROM) exercises on aerobic capacity, quality of life, and function in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with JIA and 20 healthy age-matched controls (mean age ± SD, 11.3 ± 2.4 versus 11.0 ± 2.3, resp.; P > 0.05) were included. All patients performed aerobic walking (4 days a week for 8 weeks) and active and passive ROM exercises of involved joints. All patients completed the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) and the child health questionnaire. ROM measurements of joints were performed by using universal goniometer. Aerobic capacity was determined by measuring peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during an incremental treadmill test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak oxygen uptake and exercise duration were significantly lower in JIA group than in controls (32.5 ± 6.6 versus 35.9 ± 5.8 and 13.9 ± 1.9 versus 15.0 ± 2.0, resp.; P < 0.05 for both). Eight-week combined exercise program significantly improved exercise parameters of JIA patients (baseline versus postexercise VO2peak and exercise duration, 32.5 ± 6.6 to 35.3 ± 7.9 and 13.9 ± 1.9 to 16.3 ± 2.2, resp.; P < 0.001 for both). Exercise intervention significantly improved CHAQ scores in JIA patients (0.77 ± 0.61 to 0.20 ± 0.28, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that regular aerobic exercise combined with ROM exercises may be an important part of treatment in patients with JIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doğru Apti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Kasapçopur
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mengi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Metin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen