Evaluation of Fitness and the Balance Levels of Children with a Diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a main cause of physical disability and has high economic costs for society. The purpose of this study was to assess the fitness levels and the postural and balance deficits with a specific test battery. Methods: Fifty-six subjects were enrolled in this study. Thirty-nine healthy subjects were included in the control group and seventeen in the juvenile idiopathic arthritis group. All subjects were evaluated using a posturography system. The fitness level was evaluated with a battery of tests (Abalakov test, sit-up test, hand grip test, backsaver sit and reach, the toe touch test). An unpaired t-test was used to determine differences. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the tests. Results: The battery of tests demonstrated that subjects in the juvenile idiopathic arthritis group have lower fitness levels compared to the control group. The juvenile idiopathic arthritis group showed low postural control with respect to the control group. Pearson analysis of the juvenile idiopathic arthritis group data showed significant correlations between variables. Pearson’s results from the control group data showed a similar trend. Conclusions: The results suggest that the battery of tests used could be an appropriate tool. However, we highlight that these conclusions need to be supported by other studies with a larger population scale.

Comparison of posturographic parameters between young taekwondo and tennis athletes

“…Participants were recruited from sports associations in Palermo, Italy, using the following inclusion criteria: similar age; same geographic location (within Palermo), and regular training in the sport discipline of choice (TKD or tennis) for at least 6 months. Prospective participants were screened on the exclusion criteria previously described by Houghton et al and in our own previous studies 17 , 18 , 19 ) : auditory or visual impairment (reduced visual acuity allowable if corrected with lens/glasses); and orthopaedic injury involving the lower extremities 17 , 18 , 19 ) . All assessments of balance control were performed at the research unit of the Department of Psychology and Educational Science, University of Palermo, between January 2016 and July 2016.…”

“…The system samples postural sway, in real time, at a frequency of 25 Hz. The following parameters of the statokinesigram were measured with eyes open: length of the path of sway (SP) of the centre of mass (CoP); ellipse surface area (ES); coordinates of the CoP along the frontal (X; right-left; x-mean) and sagittal (Y; forward-backward; y-mean) planes 18 ) . The ES and the coordinates along the frontal and sagittal parameters were used and can’t modify significantly by the sampling rate, according to the 1981 Kyoto conventions 20 , 21 ) .…”

Visual Binocular Disorders and Their Relationship with Baropodometric Parameters: A Cross‐Association Study

“…However, the subjects with PFV (near) blur and recovery values outside the norm, a situation that determines altered ranges of horizontal fusion amplitude associated with deviations [31,32], there are statistically significant differences between the total foot area (p < 0:05), forefoot area (p < 0:05), forefoot load (p < 0:05), and rearfoot load (p < 0:05) in all of the cases of left foot vs. right foot. In the participants with NFV (near) recovery outside the norm, a sign that characterizes the presence of excess convergence [5], differences appeared between the forefoot load and left vs. right rearfoot load with a value (p = 0:063).…”

“…The patient had to indicate when they saw blurred text (blur point), double images (breakpoint), and the image again (recovery point) [24] (iv) Vertical fusional vergences (prism diopters, Δ): These were measured using the phoropter's rotary prisms (ESSILOR MPH100E S/N000104 phoropter). [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. The data were recorded using FreeStep software version 1.4.01, which includes the same baropodometric platform.…”

Evaluation of Podalic Support and Monitoring of Balance Control in Children with and without Dyslexia: A Pilot Study

“…Two tests were performed on each sample; the best performance was used for the analysis. The parameters used for balance investigation were: Surface left (SX), Surface right (DX), Surface forefoot left (SX), Surface forefoot right (DX), Retro foot surface left (SX), and Retro foot surface right (DX) [27][28][29]. In addition, the posturography analysis was used to evaluate the balance control.…”