Posted by: Lori Tucker, MD
Getting arthritis when you are a child can interfere with healthy normal activity, due to pain and stiffness. We know that children with chronic arthritis have lower fitness than their healthy peers, but we know very little about the impact of arthritis on their physical activity. In the LEAP study (Linking Exercise, Activity, and Pathophysiology), we are measuring physical activity of children with chronic arthritis across Canada using questionnaires and motion sensors, and interaction with arthritis disease activity, inflammation, and bone and muscle development. This research will show why children with arthritis can, and should, exercise for optimal health.