OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Pilates exercises on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in individuals with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, prospective, single-blind trial. SETTING: Outpatient clinic of pediatric rheumatology and the rehabilitation department. PARTICIPANTS: Children (n = 50) with JIA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria. INTERVENTIONS: The participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups. In group I (n = 25), the participants were given a conventional exercise program for 6 months. Patients in group II (n = 25) participated in a Pilates exercise program for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was HRQL, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0). The secondary outcome measures provided an estimate of the clinical relevance of the primary outcome results and included joint pain intensity (according to a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS joint pain)), disability (according to the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ)), joint status (using the pediatric Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion Scale (pEPM-ROM)) and the total PedsQL 4.0 score. RESULTS: All of the participants completed the study. The scores of the PedsQL 4.0 differed significantly between the groups, indicating that the Pilates exercises increased these scores when compared to the conventional exercise program. The group II participants showed significant improvements in the 10-cm VAS-Joint Pain, CHAQ and pEPM-ROM. CONCLUSION: The use of Pilates exercises had a positive physical and psychosocial impact on the HRQL of individuals with JIA. Future multicenter studies with a follow-up beyond the period of treatment using more objective parameters will be useful to support the results of the present study.

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