Material provided by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. You may visit their website at www.nih.com.

Physical therapy is an important part of a child's treatment plan for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Exercise can help to maintain muscle tone and preserve and recover the range of motion of the joints (how well and how easily the joints move). A physical therapist can design an appropriate exercise program for a person with JIA.

The physical therapist also may recommend using splints and other devices to keep joints growing evenly.

Note: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) was previously known as Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).