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Aches and pains don't just trouble senior citizens — musculoskeletal pain is a common complaint among young people. Researchers from Utrecht, The Netherlands, say such pain may even affect kids' physical fitness and bone development.
Dutch researchers examined 32 6- to 20-year-olds with muscle and joint pain and compared them with 117 healthy kids the same age. Those with joint pain experienced either joint hypomobility (joints that are stiff and difficult to move) or hypermobility (joints that move beyond the normal range of motion). All kids were weighed, measured, underwent physical exams by a physical therapist, and were tested for muscle strength, range of motion, and bone mineral density. They also exercised on a bike to rate their endurance and fitness, and answered questions about how much they exercised daily.
Youths with joint hypomobility and hypermobility tended to weigh more, have higher body mass index (BMI) measurements, and lower levels of physical fitness compared with healthy children. In addition, kids with joint pain had significantly lower bone mineral density (the amount of exercise a person gets plays a role in bone density).
Although those with joint pain participated in sports less often, those who did participate in sports had higher bone mineral density tests and could exercise harder and longer. The authors of the study observed that youths with joint pain may get caught in a vicious cycle — they exercise less because their joints hurt, and their inactivity eventually decreases their body's ability to tolerate exercise.
What This Means to You. Exercise may cause discomfort in kids and teens with joint pain, but previous research has shown that in people with chronic joint problems, regular exercise is beneficial and may even relieve pain. If your child complains of soreness or chronic aching, talk to your doctor, who may suggest forms of exercise that can preserve your child's fitness level and treatments to relieve the pain.
Source: Raoul H. H. Engelbert, PhD, PT; Monique van Bergen, MSc; Thamar Henneken, MSc; Paul J. M. Helders, PhD, PT; Tim Takken, PhD; Pediatrics, September 2006.
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