Part of aging is realizing our bodies do not work like they used to.

Doing yard work can make you sore for days, while exercising can make you aware of joint and muscles that you did not know you had. Doing routine chores is a bit more difficult, and it takes our bodies longer to recover. While this is normal for aging bodies, many children also feel this frustrating physical pain or discomfort.

What starts as discomfort or minor irritation can become severe pain. For some, juvenile arthritis can be debilitating.

Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. They become inflamed and range of motion is severely limited. This disease strikes at a crucial stage of development, and children who suffer from it may not grow at the same pace as other children or reach their full height potential.

A typical symptom of juvenile arthritis is stiffness in the joints. It is common to wake up in the morning with this pain.

There is no definitive test available that determines if a child has juvenile arthritis. Symptoms persist over the course of six weeks, and when all other possibilities have been ruled out as the causation of the joint pain and discomfort, the diagnosis of juvenile arthritis is usually given.

A specialist in juvenile arthritis, or a pediatric rheumatologist, is often called upon to make the final diagnosis.

Joint pain is difficult for anyone to handle, especially children. Juvenile arthritis can limit their physical growth or participation in certain activities. Parents and care providers are a key component in helping children deal with this disease and its effects.

Within the category of juvenile arthritis, there are three subsets from which children may suffer. If a child suffers from inflammation and pain in four joints or less, then they have pauciarticular juvenile arthritis. Those who have five or more joints affected have polyarticular juvenile arthritis. Some children have one or more joints and internal organs which are inflamed. This is known as systemic onset juvenile arthritis.

The goal of juvenile arthritis treatment is to relieve pain and treat symptoms. First, inflammation must be controlled. It is also important to try to minimize joint damage and to retain mobility.

Exercising to keep the joints from tensing and becoming inflamed will be an element of a child's therapy.

Exercise can be used in conjunction with relaxation techniques characteristic of yoga and meditation to help ease the stress within the joints. Splints can also be used during hours of sleep to prevent morning stiffness.

Depending upon the severity of the arthritis, more specialists may be involved with a child's care.

Since arthritis can affect the whole body, it is important to have all areas checked on a regular basis for signs of inflammation.

Depression can also be a factor for children with juvenile arthritis. Often, they are not able to participate in the same activities as their peers, which can cause feelings of low self-worth or low self-esteem.

For parents and caregivers, it is important to acknowledge the child's feelings, and yet help the child focus on what they can do instead of what they cannot.

Stress is detrimental to health and serves no purpose in the treatment of juvenile arthritis. Therefore be sure to reassure the child in a way the causes them the least amount of stress.