View source for Disabled Village Children:Range-of-motion Exercises for Children with Arthritis

{{SideSupplement|bookabbreviation=dvc|pagealt=is from page 144 of|chapterpdf=http://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_dvc_2023/en_dvc_2023_16.pdf|bookurl=Disabled Village Children|booktitle=Disabled Village Children}}
{{bctrail|segments=3|chaptitle=Chapter 16: Juvenile Arthritis: Chronic Arthritis in Children}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Range-of-motion Exercises for Children with Arthritis}}
{{chaptertoc|In this chapter:|
 <ul class{{=}}"noprint">
<li>[[Disabled Village Children:Chapter 16: Juvenile Arthritis: Chronic Arthritis in Children|Chapter 16: Juvenile Arthritis: Chronic Arthritis in Children]]</li>
    <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Chapter 16: Juvenile Arthritis: Chronic Arthritis in Children#How to Recognize It|How to Recognize It]]</li>
    <li>[[Disabled Village Children:More Information About Juvenile Arthritis|More Information About Juvenile Arthritis]]</li>
    <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Managing Juvenile Arthritis|Managing Juvenile Arthritis]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Rest and Position|Rest and Position]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Exercises and Movement|Exercises and Movement]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Exercises Without Motion|Exercises Without Motion]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Progression of Exercises for the Child with an Arthritic Knee|Progression of Exercises for the Child with an Arthritic Knee]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Exercising an Arthritic Knee Through Daily Activities|Exercising an Arthritic Knee Through Daily Activities]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Range-of-motion Exercises for Children with Arthritis|Range-of-motion Exercises for Children with Arthritis]]</li>
  <li>[[Disabled Village Children:'Floating-in-air' Devices for Relaxing and Moving Painful Joints|“Floating-in-air” Devices for Relaxing and Moving Painful Joints]]</li>
    <li>[[Disabled Village Children:Correcting Contractures Caused by Arthritis|Correcting Contractures Caused by Arthritis]]</li>
<li>[[Disabled Village Children:Homemade Aids for Stretching Joints|Homemade Aids for Stretching Joints]]</li>
<li>[[Disabled Village Children:Correcting Contractures of Arthritic Hips|Correcting Contractures of Arthritic Hips]]</li>
<li>[[Disabled Village Children:Learning to Move and Smile, the Story of Teresa|Learning to Move and Smile, the Story of Teresa]]</li>
 </ul>
}}
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<td>'''Note:''' Range-of-motion exercises for different joints are described in [[Disabled_Village_Children:Chapter_42:_Range-of-Motion_and_Other_Exercises|Chapter 42]]. Here we discuss ways to make them easier for children with arthritis. </td></table>



For a child with arthritis, it is important that every day he move his body, arms, and legs through as full a range of motion as possible.

But this is not always easy. Pain and stiffness make straightening of joints difficult. So before starting to exercise, take steps to calm the pain and relax the tense muscles. Ibuprofen helps do this. Take it half an hour before beginning exercise (or before getting up to help morning stiffness). 

Heat helps relax muscles and calm pain. See suggestions for [[Disabled_Village_Children:How_to_Care_for_Painful_Joints|applying hot soaks and hot wax]]. If many joints are painful, it helps to lie in warm water (a little warmer than body temperature). 
<div style="position: relative; width: 275px; height:350px;float:left; text-align:left;line-height:110%;">[[Image:DVC_Ch16_Page_144-1.png|220px|left]]
<div style="position:absolute; width:250px; top:230px; left:10px;">''Ideas for making tubs or water pits heated by the sun are in [[Disabled_Village_Children:Designs_for_Therapy_Baths|Designs for Therapy Baths]].''</div></div>

If possible, get or make a tub large enough for the child to lie straight and to stretch his arms and legs in all directions. 

Warm water not only helps calm pain, but gently lifts and<br>takes the weight off body parts This makes motion easier. Support the child only as much as needed so that his arms and legs are loose and held up by the water. Ask him to relax completely. Let him begin to move his<br>arms and legs. The more he relaxes, the more they will straighten as he moves.
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<td>[[Image:DVC_Ch16_Page_144-2.png|275px|center]]</td><td>
Find ways for the child to play in the water. This will help him forget his pain and make straightening the joints easier.</td>
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<div class{{=}}speechbub style{{=}}"position:relative; height:300px; width:345px; float:right; ">
[[Image:DVC_Ch16_Page_144-3.png|342px|right|alt=woman talks to child in a tub]]
<div style{{=}}"position:absolute; width:155px; left:47px; top:16px;line-height:100%; ">''Now keep your leg stretched like that and say 10 times, "Ball, don't move."''</div></div>
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In moments when she has her leg or arm most straight, ask her to hold that position a moment without bending. 

This way, little by little, she will find she can straighten her joints more and more.


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{{Previous and next sections|Exercising an Arthritic Knee Through Daily Activities|'Floating-in-air' Devices for Relaxing and Moving Painful Joints}}
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[[es:Disabled_Village_Children:Ejercicios_para_mantener_el_movimiento_de_las_coyunturas_para_niños_con_artritis]]
[[en:Disabled_Village_Children:Range-of-motion_Exercises_for_Children_with_Arthritis]]
[[ru:Disabled_Village_Children:Упражнения_на_сохранение_полного_объема_движений_в_суставах_для_детей,_страдающих_артритом]]