Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes swollen, painful joints. According to Kids Health, this inflammatory condition affects about 50,000 children in the United States, as of 2008. Physical activity can be beneficial in treating and managing symptoms of JRA. Your child's doctor or physical therapist can design an appropriate program of regular physical exercise.
Features
Juvenile arthritis--also called juvenile idiopathic arthritis--usually appears between 6 months and 16 years of age. Symptoms may resolve after a few months, or persist for a lifetime. Signs of JRA include joint pain, swelling and stiffness. With oligoarthritis, fewer than five joints are affected; in polyarthritis, more than five joints are involved. With systemic JRA, symptoms extend beyond the joints, and may include swollen lymph nodes, rashes and fever. JRA is diagnosed by blood tests, and may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, and antirheumatic drugs. MayoClinic.com advises taking your child to the doctor if she has joint pain, swelling or stiffness for more than a few weeks, especially if fever is present.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise can be beneficial to the goals of treating JRA, which include controlling inflammation, relieving pain, preventing or lessening joint damage, and maximizing function. By keeping joints mobile and muscles strong, exercise can help to regain lost motion and facilitate everyday activities such as walking or dressing. In an article published in 2005 in "Southern Medical Journal," lead author Aysegui Cakmak, M.D., reported that a study showed that performing water exercises for six weeks improved hip rotation angles and enhanced range of motion in children with JRA. Exercise also helps prevent osteoporosis, as well as contractures--stiffening of joints or muscles--and can reduce stress on joints by helping to prevent excessive weight gain, a possible side effect of some medications used to treat the condition. Finally, exercise can provide important social interaction and help to lift your child's mood.
Specific Exercises
Stretching and strengthening exercises, both isometric exercises--which tighten muscles without moving joints--and isotonic exercises--which contract the muscles against resistance--are a vital part of physical therapy for JRA. According to the text "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice," children with JRA should perform isometric contractions daily to avoid wasting of muscle around joints. The book advises stretching exercises twice daily and light resistance training three times a week. Moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming and cycling on stationary bikes, can also alleviate JRA; the amount should not exceed 30 minutes per day. Although the Arthritis Foundation warns against contact sports, team sports such as soccer and baseball may be appropriate under the guidance of a physical therapist.
Tips and Precautions
To promote healthy bones, offer your child a diet rich in calcium. During times that the disease is less active, encourage your child to swim, bicycle, walk or dance, and remind him to wear any protective splints recommended by the physical therapist. Make sure that your child warms up for at least five minutes before exercising, and provide fluids to ensure that she stays hydrated throughout. The Arthritis Foundation reports that hot packs or hot baths before exercise can make exercise easier; cold packs may be effective as well. Your child's exercise program should always be under the guidance or direction of a doctor or physical therapist.
References
- Arthritis Foundation; Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; 2011
- Kids Health; Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; June 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; October 2009
- Southern Medical Journal; Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Physical Therapy and Exercise; Aysegui Cakmak, M.D., and Nalan Bolukbas, M.D.; 2005
- "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice, Vol. 1"; Joel A. DeLisa, et al.; 2005
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