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Study: More than half of children with arthritis have restriction with physical activity
More than half of parents of children with arthritis in 2006 in Canada reported that their child’s participation in leisure activities was restricted due, in part, to arthritis pain or fatigue, according to study findings.
Researchers gathered data from the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS), a Canadian post-census, stratified survey assigned randomly to about every fifth household included in the census. Participants who reported a limitation in activities were provided with a second questionnaire. Filter questions included: “Does this person have any difficulty hearing, seeing, communicating, walking, climbing stairs, bending, learning or doing any similar activities?” “Does a physical condition or mental condition or health problem reduce the amount or the kind of activity this person can do at home, at work or school, or in other activities (eg, transportation or leisure)?” In the presence of an affirmative response, participants were also asked, “Does this person have any of the following long-term conditions that have been diagnosed by a health professional?”
The researchers identified 2,550 children between the ages of 5 years and 11 years with arthritis and 1,810 children older than 12 years of age with arthritis and followed up with a telephone interview with an adult in the home.
Of parental respondents, 25% said the child with arthritis was not able to participate in activities the child may have enjoyed either because of pain or discomfort, or because the activity was not adapted to meet the child’s needs. About 37% reported ambulatory restrictions, and 34% had restrictions in hand function.
At least one physical activity per week was reported by 75%, whereas 33% reported daily participation in physical activity. Non-sport, skill-based activities were reported by 40% of respondents; however, none reported the activities occurred on a daily basis.
Nearly all respondents reported daily sedentary behavior, and 56% reported that the child’s participation in leisure activity was restricted due to the child’s need for assistance (61%), the high cost of activities (30%) and unavailability of local facilities (19%), according to the researchers. - by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.