Efficacy of a land-based home exercise programme for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of a land-based home exercise programme on pain, functional ability and quality of life in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. DESIGN A randomized, controlled, single-blind study. PATIENTS Eighty-one patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis participated in this study. METHODS Functional ability, pain, and quality of life were assessed with a 6-minute walk test, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, visual analogue scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The patients were randomly assigned to an exercise or control group. The exercise group (n = 43) completed a 12-week individually planned land-based home exercise programme once a week at the hospital for 4 days per week. The control group (n = 38) was placed on the waiting list until the end of the study. RESULTS Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) were found in all the outcome measures in the exercise group. The visual analogue scale score decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in the control group after 12 weeks. Other than the visual analogue scale score (P > 0.05), the changes in the other outcome measures (P < 0.001) were significant in favour of the exercise group. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated that participating in a 12-week individually planned land-based home exercise programme may result in improved physical function and quality of life in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.