Accelerometry in children and young people with arthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Proof-of-concept study of an accelerometer device in children with active knee arthritis to describe joint movement.
IRAS ID
201610
Contact name
Daniel P Hawley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) describes joint inflammation (arthritis) and is the commonest chronic rheumatology condition in childhood, characterised by flares which come and go. Recent work has shown that early treatment leads to improved long-term outcomes. Currently, diagnosis and monitoring of joint inflammation rests largely on clinician examination; paediatric Gait, Arms, Legs, Spine (pGALS) is a musculoskeletal screening examination tool which is widely practised by clinicians, helping them determine the presence or absence of active joint inflammation at any given point in time. Clinical findings may however be subtle in the early course of inflammation flares therefore further tools which aid detection of joint inflammation are highly desirable.
Joint hypermobility is common in childhood and can be difficult to differentiate from arthritis. We hypothesize highly-sensitive accelerometers may aid, and provide objectivity to, movement analysis and may be a useful tool to differentiate arthritis from hypermobility. We also hypothesize highly-sensitive accelerometers may provide a tool to aid clinicians in monitoring response to treatment in children and young people with JIA.
This proof-of-concept study aims to collect pilot data from 10 children and young people with JIA. Individuals will be selected for the study only if they have active arthritis affecting one of their knee joints. Participants will attend a 30-minute session at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Clinical Research Facility. Accelerometers will be placed just above and just below each knee joint using specially designed adjustable elastic straps. Participants will be asked to walk for a length of 10 meters and to copy a series of leg movements (flexion and extension of the leg) whilst sitting or lying down.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0347
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion