OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two different task-oriented activity training (TOAT) programs on activity performance and participation in children/adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). DESIGN: Sixty-two patients were randomized into group I and group II for TOAT. In group I, activities of daily living (ADL) were practiced using real materials from daily life and, in group II, ADL were practiced using video-based games (Xbox 360 Kinect) for 3 days/a week/8 weeks. Pain by the "numeric rating scale (NRS)", upper extremity muscle, grip, and pinch strengths by a dynamometer, activity performance and participation by the "Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ)", "Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)", and "Duruoz Hand Index (DHI)" were evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment in both groups, significant changes were found in the NRS, muscle strength, grips strength, CHAQ, COPM, and DHI (p < 0.05). Group II was statistically superior to group I in changes of almost all upper extremity muscle strengths, palmar pinch strength, COPM-satisfaction, and DHI scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Video games-based TOAT is an alternative and feasible treatment for children/adolescents with JIA. This new method may have widespread applicability in future research, given the rapidly growing interest in virtual reality-based therapy in rehabilitation.

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