NCT00213187

PEAK Study (Physical Exercise and Activity in Kids)

The Effect of Vigorous Exercise on Motor Function and Functional Fitness in Juvenile Arthritis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (planned)
• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The objectives of this study are to study the effect of formal exercise training on motor function and overall physical fitness in children with arthritis. A 12-week comprehensive exercise program will be used. Formal exercise training will be compared to Qi gong.

Detailed description

Childhood arthritis is a common and often debilitating disease. Children with arthritis are less active than their peers, and consequently they often have poor physical fitness. This study follows up our pilot study, in which we showed that exercise training can be safely carried out in children who have arthritis. We plan to randomly assign 80 children with arthritis to one of two groups. The experimental group undergoes a vigorous exercise training program consisting of twelve weekly supervised sessions as well as twice weekly at home sessions using an exercise video. The control group also has twelve supervised sessions and two home sessions. However, their exercises are non-strenuous, based on Qi gong. All children have comprehensive fitness testing before and after the training at the exercise lab at the Hospital for Sick Children. If we show that fitness exercise leads to improved motor function and improved ability to carry out activities of daily living, then we will change the way in which we provide therapy for childhood arthritis. We hope that this study will lead to an improved quality of life for children with arthritis.

Conditions

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Aerobic and Qi gong Exercise

Timeline

• Start date: 2002-08-01
• Completion: 2005-11-01
• First posted: 2005-09-21
• Last updated: 2013-12-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada