Physiotherapy is used to treat the effects of JIA. It can relieve symptoms such as pain, weakness, limited range of motion, or reduced physical ability. Physiotherapy should play an important role in your treatment plan.
When you participate in routine exercises, you will:
- have less joint tightness
- your muscles will get stronger
- your fitness level will improve.
What does a physiotherapist do?
Physiotherapists can provide you with helpful strategies to manage JIA. A physiotherapist will:
- assess and monitor JIA
- show you how to improve your physical abilities and fitness levels
- help to decrease your pain and stiffness
- improve your flexibility and movement
- provide you with information about JIA.
Types of physiotherapy
A physiotherapist will usually give you a set of specific exercises to help manage your pain. These may involve the use of equipment such as weights, therapy balls or a treadmill.
Physiotherapy may also involve helping you to select or make adaptations to sports and other physical activities. This will help to improve your level of fitness and your ability to perform different activities.
Other examples of physical therapies include heat, ice and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). You learned about some of these strategies in "Physical methods to treat pain".
