{"id":8660,"date":"2018-03-21T09:56:35","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T13:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/physiotherapieuniverselle.com\/en\/?p=8660"},"modified":"2019-01-14T15:10:02","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T20:10:02","slug":"juvenile-arthristis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/physiotherapieuniverselle.com\/en\/blogue\/juvenile-arthristis","title":{"rendered":"Juvenile Arthritis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Juvenile arthritis (JA) is a chronic disease affecting three out of every 1,000 children in Canada. As in adults, JA is an inflammatory disease originating from the synovial membrane, the structure which allows bones to slide against each other, and may be acute or chronic. The following article discusses the occupational issues related to JA in children and outlines the role the occupational therapist (OT) plays on the patient\u2019s multidisciplinary care team.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What causes JA?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The causes of juvenile arthritis remain unknown. However, it is known that an impairment of the immune system influences the onset of arthritic symptoms, which vary according to the type of JA (e.g. polyarticular, psoriasis, systemic, etc.) However, symptoms such as joint stiffness, inflammation, and decreased mobility are present in most types of JA. Children afflicted with JA frequently complain of joint pain during growth spurts; this is due to joint inflammation, which may accelerate the child\u2019s overall growth.<\/p>\n

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The impact of juvenile arthritis on children<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A child\u2019s development is highly influenced by play and interactions with her\/his environment. Therefore, mobility problems can significantly limit the child\u2019s participation in sports, outdoor activities, and balance games. Engaging in playtime activities with other kids is motivating; consequently, limitations due to JA symptoms may have an impact on the child\u2019s self-esteem. Moreover, psychosocial factors such as lower self-esteem as well as side effects from treatment (e.g. skipping activities to get treatment) may negatively impact the child\u2019s involvement in play and leisure activities.<\/p>\n

Moreover, research has shown that reduced mobility in children with JA negatively affects manual school tasks such as handwriting, arts and crafts, and recess activities. In terms of self-care, some children have difficulty feeding themselves due to pain upon chewing, a situation which can reduce the child\u2019s motivation to eat.<\/p>\n

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Occupational therapy assessment and intervention<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The occupational therapy assessment process allows therapists to uncover facilitators and barriers that may impact the child\u2019s occupation, thereby enhancing the patient\u2019s participation in various activities:<\/p>\n