Seniors aren’t the only people who develop arthritis. About one in one thousand children in the United States develops some form of it, as well, and it’s often severe enough to merit treatment. At Knoxville Footcare, we work closely with other practitioners as part of a care team for people whose arthritis is affecting their lower limbs, and since Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis is treatable, we wanted to share a bit of information about how it works and what we do.
Although the exact cause of arthritis in children is not known, it is a rheumatic condition. That means the immune system is overactive and attacking healthy cells, including those of the synovial tissue, which lines and cushions the joints. This results in swelling, and over the long-term, may cause the joints to become deformed and the bones to weaken. In about half the juvenile cases arthritis is oligoarticular, meaning that it only affects a few joints, such as those of the ankles. It is often accompanied by eye inflammation and might be first flagged by an optometrist.
While there is not a cure for Juvenile Arthritis, it is possible to help children lead normal lives by reducing their inflammation and increasing their muscle strength. Various injected medications exist to control arthritis symptoms, and some can also be taken orally. Other drugs disrupt the overactive immune system or inflammatory response before it develops. Children with arthritis can also engage in physical therapy to increase their flexibility and build up their support for their joints, making them less vulnerable to deformation. They may also learn to use splints to more evenly distribute pressure while they build their lower limb strength.
Knoxville Footcare is located at 1932 Alcoa Highway Building C, Suite 480, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37920. Visit us at Knoxville Footcare or call 865-632-5700.