About Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Physical Therapy

Though arthritis, a rheumatic condition often involving an inflammation of the joints, is commonly associated with older adults, it can sometimes afflict young children. When arthritis is diagnosed in a person aged sixteen or younger, it is known as juvenile arthritis. The most common type is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Though arthritis is not curable outright, one effective method of treatment and management is physical therapy.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) manifests itself in physical symptoms such as joint pain and swelling and stiffness in the joints, bones and surrounding muscles. If the condition is severe, it can also cause more serious complications like inflammation of the eyes and growth issues. Because JRA is not a curable disease, the primary methods of treatment are focused on pain management and control, physical therapy, movement functionality and preventive joint care.

Additional facts about juvenile arthritis:

• Nearly 294,000 children are afflicted with juvenile arthritis or other rheumatic medical conditions.


• Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood medical afflictions in the US.


• If left unmanaged and untreated, arthritic conditions can lead to joint contracture and/or extended damage to cartilage and bone. This may lead to joint deformity. Another result may be a shorter stature.


• Children afflicted with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis will be cared for primarily by a specialist known as a pediatric rheumatologist.


• Treatment and management will include medication (primarily onsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs), physical therapy, education, eye care and nutritional information.


• Corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed to help relieve inflammation. These drugs can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected joints.


• Though not as common as NSAIDs or corticosteroids, there are anti-rheumatic drugs that are also sometimes prescribed in conjunction with other medicines and treatments.

Physical Therapy as Treatment

Physical therapy and rehabilitation has proven to be a well respected and often used method of pain management and treatment for JRA. The primary methods used are both hot and cold treatment, massage, electrical stimulation and ultrasound. All of these types of therapies, or all of them combined, are employed for the ultimate goal of easing joint pain, relieving stiffness and strengthening the muscles. Massage is recommended to be performed on a daily basis - sometimes for as little as fifteen minutes per day - to ease pain in the muscles. It has also been shown to lower cortisol (a steroid hormone) levels in some patients. Other physical therapies used include electric stimulation, aquatic exercises, tai chi, isometric exercises, regular stretching and weight training.