Physical Activity in Young Girls With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders: Findings of a Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial With Dance and Yoga.
Mattias Folkesson, Stefan Särnblad, Louise Bringman et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed daily physical activity and abdominal pain in girls aged 9 to 13 years with functional abdominal pain disorders who participated in an 8-month dance and yoga intervention. Accelerometer measurements at baseline and follow-up showed that total activity and light activity decreased, while sedentary time increased in both intervention and control groups. Moderate-to-vigorous activity did not change significantly, and there were no significant time-by-group interactions or associations between changes in pain and activity. At baseline, lower abdominal pain was associated with greater physical activity.
Key findings
- Among 108 girls, total and light physical activity decreased and sedentary time increased by 8-month follow-up in both groups.
- Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity did not change significantly, and no significant time-by-group interaction was found.
- Changes in pain were not significantly associated with changes in physical activity; at baseline, lower pain was associated with greater activity.
Why it matters
The findings distinguish a baseline association between pain and activity from evidence of intervention effects: the dance and yoga programme did not significantly alter activity levels relative to control. The observed decline in activity and increase in sedentary time in both groups highlight physical activity patterns as a relevant consideration in children with functional abdominal pain, while the study does not establish that increasing activity reduces pain.
What to keep in mind
Physical activity and pain were assessed at baseline and 8-month follow-up; the reported findings do not establish whether changes between assessments occurred earlier or later.