Comparison Of The Effects Of Two Different Exercise Training Based On Internal And External Focus In Children and Adolescents With Rheumatic Diseases
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Where
- Türkiye1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Status
- Completed
- People taking part
- 28 people enrolled
- Started
- 1 May 2025
- Ended
- 30 Jan 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- External Focus Exercises
- Internal Focus Exercises
- Record updated
- 1 April 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 6 years to 18 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 12 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Being diagnosed with JDM according to the Bohan and Peter Criteria by a pediatric rheumatologist
- Familial Mediterranean Fever: Having been diagnosed with FMF at least 6 months ago
- JIA: Having been diagnosed with JIA according to the ILAR classification
- Not having visual impairment or hearing impairment
- Being at a mental level that can adapt to the exercise program
- Having internet connection
Who cannot take part
- Having undergone surgery affecting the musculoskeletal system in the last 6 months
- Having any systemic chronic disease other than JIA, FMF, or JDM
- Having any musculoskeletal disease or an orthopedic, neurological, psychological disease that may interfere with participation in exercise
- Having visual impairment or hearing impairment
- Having developed amyloidosis
- Not having internet connection
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The study aims to compare the effects of two different exercise programs, based on distinct focus strategies, on physical fitness and fatigue in children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases. Participants will include individuals diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM), and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), monitored at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. After baseline assessments, participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. One group will receive an exercise program with commands and instructions emphasizing external focus, while the other group will follow a program emphasizing internal focus. Both exercise interventions will last for 8 weeks, consisting of two online supervised sessions and one home-based session per week under family supervision. Final evaluations will be conducted at the clinic after completion of the intervention period.
The 2 groups in the trial
- External Focus of Attention GroupExisting treatment, for comparison
In this group, the exercise program will be implemented using external focus in the commands and exercise instructions. During exercise, external focus commands are designed to direct attention toward the impact of the movement or an external stimulus. For example, during the squat exercise, the command "Bend over as if sitting on a chair until the sign in front is no longer visible" represents an external focus command, whereas the command "Bend over by bending the knees without disturbing the straightness of the back" represents an internal focus command.
Treatment: External Focus Exercises
- Internal Focus of Attention GroupExisting treatment, for comparison
In this group, the exercise program will be implemented using internal focus in the commands and exercise instructions. During exercise, internal focus commands are designed to direct attention toward the body part performing the movement or the movement itself. For example, during the squat exercise, the command "Bend over by bending the knees without disturbing the straightness of the back" represents an internal focus command, whereas the command "Bend over as if sitting on a chair until the sign in front is no longer visible" represents an external focus command.
Treatment: Internal Focus Exercises
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Record updated
- 1 April 2026