Being Prepared In Case of an Emergency

Being Prepared In Case of an Emergency

 

As much as we hate to imagine all of the worst-case scenarios that could play out, doing so can help you prepare for emergencies, which can result in less stress and better outcomes in the moment.  There are many services, products, and programs available that can help you and your family be more prepared in case of an emergency, many of which have features that can specifically help families of children with special needs.

One such resource is a program called Smart 911.  By creating a free profile that is linked to your phone number and/or address, the emergency dispatchers at Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office can access important information instantly when you call.  For example, you can list medical conditions and precautions, such as autism, behavioral difficulties, communication deficits, allergies, and/or physical impairments.  This information can help dispatchers, paramedics, fire fighters, and police officers help you and your family more effectively if an emergency arises. 

If your child has autism, you may qualify for a Big Red Safety Box, a free-of-charge safety toolkit for families in need of wandering-prevention tools.  These kits include:

  • Educational materials and tools, including NAA’s Be REDy Booklet
  • Two (2) GE Door/Window Alarms including batteries
  • One (1) RoadID Personalized, Engraved Shoe ID Tag
  • Five (5) Adhesive Stop Sign Visual Prompts for doors and windows
  • Two (2) Safety Alert Window Clings for car or home windows
  • One (1) Red Safety Alert Wristband
  • One (1) Child ID Kit from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

 

Autism Speaks has a great list of numerous other resources available for families of children, and adults, with special needs, including social stories to promote safety, and equipment to increase safety in the home and the community. 

AWAARE has additional resources and items available for families to download and purchase, as well as free  Social Stories  you can personalize to educate your child on how to handle emergency situations.

The Red Cross has a booklet on preparing for disasters for people with special needs, which gives practical tips and guidelines for emergency and natural disaster preparedness.

It is important to think about the unique characteristics and needs of your family and child, in order to plan accordingly and be as prepared as possible for an emergency.  Having a kit and supplies ready and having practiced escape routes and evacuation plans provides a little extra peace of mind that, when an emergency happens, you’re prepared.  

 

Author: Krista Flack, MS OTR/L

Olympic-Themed Therapy!

Olympic-Themed Therapy!

 

Friday August 5th marks the opening ceremony for the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio. The Olympics are where the best athletes of each country come together and compete against one another in different events, but you do not have to travel to Rio to compete. Hosting your own Olympic games are a great way to get your kids outside and playing. Below are some different ideas for Olympic style games that also help work on gross motor activities. If your remember from one of my previous blogs, gross motor skills are body movements such as walking, running, jumping, throwing, etc. You can also work on social interaction skills by inviting other kids in the neighborhood over to compete.

 

Event: Gymnastics

Gymnastic events are a great way for kids to work on balance and stability. One idea is to spray paint a line in the grass using field paint. This will act as a balance beam, and you can create different events such as walking forward, walking backward, standing on 1 foot, and even hopping on 1 foot all while staying on the balance beam.

 

Event: Track and Field

Track and field events are great ways to build strength and endurance. You can create your own decathlon in the backyard. You can do some individual races such as sack races or crab walking races, or create an obstacle course and have a team relay race. Field events such as throwing and jumping are also great ways to improve strength. Use bocce balls for shot put, and stack pool noodles on top of each other to create a high jump. Pool noodles are also great to lay down throughout the yard and create a hurdle track.

 

These are just a few ideas to turn your backyard into an Olympic arena. Below are some great links for other event ideas along with different craft ideas to create team costumes and medals.

 

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/holding-your-own-olympic-games

 

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/olympic-games-kids/games-beach-0

 

 

-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT

Pediatric Physical Therapist

 

Back-To-School Tips

Summer is winding down and the first day of school will be here before you know it. This week I am going to share some tips to help you and your family get back into the school routine. The hardest part for me as a kid was always getting on a proper sleeping schedule. Make sure to have set times for going to bed and waking up in the morning for once school is back into session. Take 2 weeks before school actually starts and slowly push back your child’s bedtime and start waking them up earlier. Do this over the last two weeks of summer and by the first day of school they should have no problem going to bed on time and waking up on time.

 

South Carolina and Georgia’s tax free weekends are a great time to begin back to school shopping. With hundreds of deals you can get everything you need at a good price, but before you begin your shopping create an inventory first. Have your child try on all of their old school clothes. Find out what fits and what doesn’t. Also find out what school supplies you already have at home and create a list of clothing and school supplies that you will need to purchase.

 

My last tip is to stay organized. The first week of school you are going to be flooded with papers to sign, lunch menus, upcoming events, upcoming projects, etc. Have a designated spot to store all of this paperwork and in this spot have a calendar. Use the calendar to mark important school dates such as project due dates or field trip dates. This is also a good place to keep track of after school activities such as school meetings and even therapy times. This is also a good place to store visual schedules. Visual schedules are a great way to keep a busy house on task and off to school on time. If you have multiple kids make each one a different visual schedule with a different order to help prevent people waiting for things such as the sink to brush their teeth.

 

Here are some more resources below with other tips and tricks!

http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/back-to-school-tips-get-organized (Has printable checklists for back to school shopping, after school activities, and lunch menus)

 

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/family-building/back-to-school-tips/

 

-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT

Pediatric Physical Therapist

 

Sensory Strategies for a Successful School Year

Sensory Strategies for a Successful School Year

 

When it comes to having a successful school year, paying attention is a key part of learning the material being taught.  There are many sensory strategies that can help children pay better attention.  Many of these strategies can be beneficial for numerous kids (not just those with more significant special needs), and some are even used on a daily basis by adults without realizing it!  Do you squeeze a stress ball, turn the music on or off, chew gum, or take a walk to help you refocus and get your work done?  These are all strategies that target your body’s various sensory systems, which include tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), proprioceptive (body awareness), and vestibular (balance and movement).  For a detailed explanation of each sensory system, check out this blog.  Below are some strategies that can easily be implemented before, during, or after school to help improve your child’s attention and arousal level.

Fidgets – Fidgets are small manipulatives that can help keep fingers and hands busy so that the rest of your body can focus on listening and engaging in the task being completed.  This can stimulate the child that needs a pick-me-up to stay engaged (“daydreamer”), or calm the child that would otherwise be out of his chair or picking at his notebook numerous times.  There are many fidgets on the market, and finding the right one can mean some trial-and-error.  Some fidgets can be too distracting.  Others get lost easily, or can become messy!  Here are a few of my favorite fidgets for during the school day:

·       Finger Spring: these rubber springs are quiet and easily manipulated.  But when your child needs to write, it can twist right around a finger or pencil, leaving hands free to get work done.

·       Kneadable Eraser: I love fidgets that double as a functional tool!  This eraser can be squeezed and manipulated like putty, but still serves a purpose and draws less attention to itself.  Some companies make scented kneadable erasers, which provide olfactory input as well!

·       Velcro – Adhesive-backed hook-and-loop can be stuck onto many surfaces to give your child an opportunity to seek out some tactile input to refocus.  Place a piece on your child’s pencil box, agenda, or another item easily accessible throughout the day.  Talk to your child’s teacher about placing it on the underside of his or her desk!

More movement – For kids that need more movement, there are some good tools out there that provide just the input your child’s body is craving:

·       Wiggle Cushion – placing a wiggle cushion on your child’s chair allows him to rock, wiggle, and move just enough to provide the vestibular input he needs, without risking falling out of his chair or distracting other students.  Not only do these come in different sizes, but most have a smooth and a textured side (and different cushions even have different textures) to further customize it.  Altering the amount of air inflated into the cushion can also change how much movement is allowed. 

·       Theraband – Tying a piece of Theraband around the front two legs of a chair allows your child to get proprioceptive input from the resistance, which can minimize the constant swinging of legs under the chair! 

Heavy Work – Tasks that require actively using your muscles can help regulate arousal levels:

·       Classroom chores – talk to your child’s teacher about your child being assigned a role that provided him with heavy work opportunities throughout the day.  Perhaps that is carrying a book or stack of papers to the office, watering the plants, or sweeping the floor. 

·       Heavy work in your seat – some exercises can be taught to your child that provide heavy work without leaving their seat.  Chair pushups and isometric exercises (pushing your hands together or pulling them apart with hands held) are easy to learn and are not too distracting to other students nearby.  A small picture of the exercises taped to your child’s desk can help remind her to use them!

·       Sensory breaks – Allowing your child to stand up and complete a heavy work activity for a few moments can sometimes pay off.  The temporary disruption from their work can mean they return to the task and get several minutes of good work done!  Wall pushups or crab walking are a few examples of breaks that can get your child to refocus.  Some teachers even find that these kind of strategies work for the whole class!

Snacks – Along with providing nutrients your body needs, the right snacks can provide sensory input to change your child’s arousal level:

·       Gum – while chewing gum can be distracting for some students, for others, it provides proprioceptive input through chewing, swallowing (saliva)and breathing,  which can be calming and organizing.

·       Crunchy foods – crunchy snacks are alerting.  If you child needs a pick me up during the day to regain or maintain focus, consider snacks that have a crunchy feel: carrots, celery, crackers, or pretzels are great options.

·       Chewy foods – chewy foods, like licorice, a bagel, or beef jerky, on the other hand, are great heavy work activities for your mouth! 

One thing to remember is that, while some of these strategies can be fun, fun is not their purpose.  It is important that these strategies are considered “tools” and not “toys.”  Talk to your child and your child’s teacher about the benefits that these tools have.  Rather than using these as a reward or punishment, these tools should be available as needed.  If one is too distracting or is not having the desired effect, it may not be a good fit, and there are plenty of other tools to try! 

Ask an OT at Lowcountry Therapy Center for more suggestions of individualized sensory strategies that may help your child based on his or her specific needs and sensory system.

Author: Krista Flack, MS OTR/L

Back to School Supplies

Back to School Supplies

 

It’s almost time for school to start, and I’m sure the back-to-school shopping has begun!  Before you go out and buy those sparkly pencils, read on for tips on choosing the right school supplies to help your child succeed at school.  Links provided are examples only.  Many of these products can be found in various brands, and can be found both online and in local stores, like Staples, Target, Walmart, etc.

 

Triangular pencils are a great tool to encourage a tripod grasp, which can impact handwriting by reducing fatigue and cramps and increasing control.  The triangle shape helps fingers fall just in the right spot, and can be enough to correct subtle inefficient grasps.  These come in standard size and thick, and many crayons can even be found in this shape.  Some children need more support, which can come from various pencil grips, but talk to your OT before selecting one!

Thick pencils (like these, or crayons and markers, too!) are nice for children that have low tone in their hands, and have trouble stabilizing a thin utensil.  Of course, it can sometimes hinder development of those tiny hand and finger muscles, so talk to your child’s OT to decide if this will be a help or a hindrance!

Before you throw away those broken crayons and golf pencils, remember that shorter utensils encourage a more mature grasp pattern.  Rather than using your whole hand in a fisted grasp, a short utensil requires you to use your fingers!  Markers, crayons, colored pencils, and pencils can be found in mini sizes (or again, keep those golf pencils and broken crayons!).   Crayon rocks encourage using a pinching grip, rather than a whole fist!

For some children, mechanical pencils can be a great tool!  If you press too hard when using a mechanical pencil, it causes the pencil lead to break, which teaches some students to press more lightly, but just frustrates other students.  Different lead thicknesses can make this very customizable to increase or decrease sensitivity.  Mechanical pencils can also be a good option for students who are easily distracted by trips to the pencil sharpener.  If you’re concerned that mechanical pencils will be too frustrating for your child, consider a small pencil sharpener like this that your child can keep at his or her desk, to minimize distraction.

For many of our kids that are impulsive and rush through work (leading to mistakes that need to be corrected), the small eraser on the end of the pencil is worn away long before the pencil lead is.  Picking out some ‘fun’ erasers that can sit on the desktop may provide a visual cue to remind children to correct mistakes, while providing motivation to do so!  Kneadable erasers add an extra element by doubling as a fidget! 

For children with fine motor weakness, cutting can be a frustrating task.  While this is a skill they need to develop, the best time to do that is when you or their OT is there to provide one-on-one support.  For classroom time, self-opening scissors like these can reduce frustration and increase independence. 

There are numerous styles of lined paper on the market, and some provide more support for your child than you may realize!  Skip-a-line paper helps with keeping organized when visual tracking is difficult.  Redi-space paper helps teach letter and word spacing.  Raised line paper helps to improve sizing and line placement when children have a hard time staying within the lines with visual clues alone.  Websites like www.printablepaper.net allow you to print paper from home with various spacing and sizing options, and you can add a raised line with a little glue and patience!     

For children with executive functioning deficits and who have trouble staying organized, color-coding supplies can be a simple tool to embrace.  From coordinating folders and notebooks to spandex book covers, each subject/class can have its own color, so that the correct supplies make it to the right classroom!  Coordinating pouches can help keep needed supplies together, like a calculator and protractor for math, or a highlighter to mark important dates during history. 

Encourage and help your child use a planner or agenda, so that he or she can gain independence and confidence in keeping track of important dates and assignments.  This is not a skill that comes naturally to everyone, so you may need to take some time to teach him or her how to listen for important dates, where to record, and how often to check what’s coming up.

 

I hope this blog helps you choose school supplies that will support your children so that they can have a successful school year!  If you have specific questions about which supplies would be best for your child, talk to his or her OT about options.

 

 

For more information on choosing the right type and weight for your child's backpack,  check out Matt's blog post for this week!  Generating URL...

http://www.lowcountrytherapycenter.com/our-blog/backpack-awareness

Author: Krista Flack, MS OTR/L

Backpack Awareness

Backpack Awareness!

Backpacks are worn to school every day by millions of kids around the world, but have you ever thought about the serious health effects that backpacks can cause children? The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has stated a backpack awareness day to help raise awareness about how to properly wear a backpack and how heavy it should be. According to the AOTA, in 2007 over 2,000 backpack related injuries were treated in emergency rooms and physician offices. In one study with American students ages 11 to 15 years, 64% reported back pain related to heavy backpacks. Twenty one percent reported the pain lasting more than 6 months.

 

According to the AOTA there are 3 simple steps to backpack wearing to help reduce the risk of injury. The first step is to pack it properly.  Make sure to utilize all compartments and pockets of the backpack to help distribute weight, and keep the heavier items closer to the back center of the backpack. A backpack should weigh no more than 10% of your child’s total body weight. The second step is put it on correctly. Make sure your child is picking up the backpack by bending and lifting in the knees instead of the waist to prevent back injury. The third step is to make sure the backpack is adjusted and worn properly. Always use both shoulder straps and make sure the backpack rests snugly against the back. Make sure that the backpack does not go above your child’s shoulders or below the top of the hip bones.

 

National backpack awareness is day is September 21, 2016. So why talk about backpacks now? It is important to know how to properly size a backpack and what should be in them before beginning your back to school shopping especially with tax free weekend coming up. Georgia and South Carolina both have tax free weekends coming up for back to school supplies.

 

Georgia’s TAX FREE weekend is July 30 – July 31st. During this weekend the sales tax will be exempt on different clothing items, computers and accessories, and school supplies, however there are some limitations on items and pricing. Total cost in clothing items must be less than $100 in order to receive tax exemption. Computer items less than $1,000 and school supplies less than $20 for tax exemption. Please be sure to look at the link below for all of the official rules and regulations for Georgia’s tax free weekend https://dor.georgia.gov/sites/dor.georgia.gov/files/related_files/press_release/2016%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday%20Back%20to%20School.pdf

 

South Carolina’s TAX FREE weekend is August 7 – August 9th. During this time, sales tax will not be imposed on items such as clothing, shoes, school supplies, bookbags, computers, printers, bedspreads and linens. Nonexempt items include the sale of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture, or items placed on layaway. Please be sure to look at the link below for all of the official rules and regulations for South Carolina’s tax free weekend https://dor.sc.gov/resources-site/media-site/Pages/SOUTH-CAROLINA'S-ANNUAL-SALES-TAX-HOLIDAY-IS-AUGUST-7-9.aspx

 

Backpack awareness links and more information

http://www.aota.org/conference-events/backpack-safety-awareness-day.aspx

file:///C:/Users/BLF14/Downloads/meet-your-backpack-8-2014.pdf

http://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/Backpack/Whats%20All%20the%20Flap%20About.pdf?la=en

http://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/Backpack-Safety-Awareness-Day/Handouts.aspx

 

For suggestions on other school supplies, check out Krista's blog post for this week! http://www.lowcountrytherapycenter.com/our-blog/back-to-school-supplies

 

-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT

Pediatric Physical Therapist

Beaufort Water Festival!

Beaufort Water Festival – Rendezvous by the River

 

This Friday is the first day of the Beaufort Water Festival, a ten day festival comprised of more than two dozen individual events including sporting events, aquatic events, arts & crafts, music and of course, the best of Lowcountry cuisine.  The Water Festival is a highlight of summer life in the Lowcountry, and a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience everything life on the coast has to offer.  This post will highlight some of the main events, especially those that would be fun for the whole family, including children and teens.

The Opening Ceremony is this Friday, July 15th at Waterfront Park.  The Parris Island Marine Corps band will play, and there will be a fireworks show at dusk.  This event is free and begins at 7pm.  Also, check out our previous blog for ideas on making events like fireworks and the Air Show (see below) a little more sensory-friendly.

If you arrive early, walk around the Arts and Crafts Market at the attached Promenade (going on throughout the festival), where local and out of town artists and crafters display and sell their hard work.

Saturday, July 16th is filled with plenty of events to watch or even participate in (register here): a bocce tournament, a raft race, a badminton tournament, a croquet tournament, and a Children’s Toad Fishing Tournament, which is free to enter! 

Sunday, July 17th is Children’s Day!  This event is FREE.  Come to Waterfront Park to enjoy games, shows, activities, prizes, and bounce houses.  

In the evening, let your older children go out and enjoy some music and time with friends at the Teen Dance (ages 13-17). 

Saturday, July 23rd is the Water Festival Grand Parade.  The Parade is from 10am-12pm and goes throughout downtown Beaufort. 

After the parade, head over to Waterfront Park for the Air Show, where you can watch stunt planes, parachutists, and a US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo.

On Sunday, July 24th, the festival ends with the Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats, which can be viewed from Waterfront Park. 

Throughout the week and weekends, there are numerous events and concerts scheduled, including a Concert in the Park, a Talent Show, a Lowcountry Supper, a River Dance, and the Commodore’s Ball.  Check out the complete list of events by visiting the website and clicking on the Events tab and selecting Festival Schedule.  Tickets to events can be purchased here (most events are free for children 5 and under).

Enjoy the Water Festival!

 

Author: Krista Flack, MS OTR/L

Cleft and Craniofacial Prevention and Awareness Month!

Cleft and Craniofacial Prevention and Awareness Month

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) along with other organizations are raising awareness about cleft and craniofacial defects along with other conditions that affect the face. So what are craniofacial defects? The Center for Disease Control defines craniofacial defects as conditions present at birth that affect the structure and function of a baby’s head and face. The most common craniofacial defect we see in children is a cleft lip and cleft palate. This is when a baby is born with an opening in the lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate). According to kidshealth.org, cleft lip and cleft palate occur in 1 or 2 of every 1,000 births making it one of the most common birth defects in the United States. It occurs during the first 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, the bones and tissues of a baby's upper jaw, nose, and mouth normally come together (fuse) to form the roof of the mouth and the upper lip. This can cause other health problems or concerns such as feeding problems, ear fluid buildup, hearing loss, dental problems, and speech problems.

 

According to the American Speech and Hearing Association, the treatment of cleft palate is done through a team approach. Typically children start off by seeing a surgeon who will close the cleft lip or palate usually before 1 year of age. An orthodontist and dentist are also a crucial part of the team by helping to straighten your child’s teeth, and making sure their jaw is aligned properly. A speech language pathologist will assess your child’s feeding during infancy and will also monitor your child’s speech and language development. Other team members may include pediatricians, nurses, ENT, audiologist, psychologist, social workers, and nutritionists.

 

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) has outlined teams in each state that specialize in cleft palate and craniofacial deformities. Here is the link to the teams located in South Carolina http://www.cleftline.org/parents-individuals/team-care/state-listings-s/

 

Check out the links below for more information.

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/CleftLip/#therapy

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cleft-lip-palate.html#

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/features/craniofacialdefects.html

http://www.ameriface.org/resources.html

 

-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT

Pediatric Physical Therapist

Let’s Go Play!

Author: Krista Flack, MS OTR/L

Let’s Go Play!

Playing is one of the most important jobs that children have; not only is it fun, but it can be very educational. While playing, children learn a variety of skills, like manipulating parts, maneuvering through their environment, problem-solving, social skills, and communication. While individual play is very important to foster independence and a sense of self, this blog is going to focus on the benefits of group play.

Toddlers often begin participating in parallel play – they sit near each other, and may or may not be playing with the same toys. In parallel play, children do not share, turn-take, or influence each other’s play. Still, this is an important developmental stage, as children observe each other and learn new ways to play with toys, they begin to interact, moving into associative play.

In associative play, the focus of play becomes each other, rather than the toys. Although usually lacking structure, children in this stage make an effort to be involved in each other’s play, even if playing by different rules.

Cooperative play comes last. In this stage, children play together, with a common purpose. Whether it is make-believe (playing ‘school’ or ‘house’) or a structured game with rules (freeze tag, soccer, etc.), children begin to be interested in both the activity and the socialization, which opens up many learning opportunities!

Whichever stage your child is in, or even if they fluctuate between two stages, it is important to give them opportunities to play with same-age (and same-stage) peers. Here are some ideas for getting out to play!

• Summer day camps can be a great opportunity for children to participate in play with peers. Check out this previous blog for some local summer camps; it’s not too late to sign up for some!

• Go to the park! Encourage your child to play with other children there. Tag, hide and seek, and other group games are quick to learn and it’s easy to add more kids into the game as they come and go. Swinging, climbing, and sliding provide great sensory input and give children an opportunity to practice gross motor skills as well!

• Look for local events at the library. Many events are age-specific, so you’re sure to find children there that are close in age to your child.

• Be on the lookout for events and classes that become available. CrossFit Port Royal Sound offers Kids CrossFit classes; first class is free to try it out. Plus, this can be a great heavy work option for kids! Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Michael’s offer free or low-cost kid’s craft projects.

• Sign up for team sports through PALS Team sports are great for learning cooperation, teamwork, sportsmanship, and other important social and life skills.

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month!

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Juvenile and arthritis are not two words we typically see associated together. When we think of arthritis we immediately think of the elderly, however arthritis can affect children too. Nearly 300,000 children in the United States are affected with juvenile arthritis. Juvenile arthritis is actually an umbrella term for many different types of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that affect children. Arthritis.org explains the different types of juvenile arthritis and I have listed them below.

  • Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis = This is considered the most common form of arthritis in children. It includes 6 different sub-types such as oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, systemic, enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated. 
  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis = This is an inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and a skin rash on the eyelids and knuckles.
  • Juvenile Lupus = Lupus is an autoimmune disease and can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, and other areas of the body.
  • Juvenile Scleroderma = These are a group of conditions that cause the skin to harden and tighten.
  • Kawasaki Disease = This disease causes blood vessel inflammation and can lead to heart complications.
  • Fibromyalgia = Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that cause stiffness and aching, fatigue, disrupted sleep, and other symptoms.

http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org has listed several common signs and symptoms of arthritis and how they are different from symptoms caused by other illnesses and injuries. Many early signs and symptoms could be mistaken for other childhood diseases or injuries; therefore it is important to get a proper examination from your pediatrician. Below are several of the most common signs and symptoms associated with JA.

  • Pain = A child with juvenile arthritis may complain of pain first thing in the morning or right after a nap, and the pain may lessen with movement. JA pain typically occurs in joints on both sides of the body and may develop slowly unlike pain caused by an injury or another illness.
  • Stiffness = JA related stiffness may be worse right after a child wakes up and typically improves with movement.
  • Swelling = Swelling and redness may be present around the joints, and may even cause the joints to feel hot or warm to touch. Unlike normal swelling, JA swelling can come and go at any time and persist for several days.
  • Fevers = A child with JA may have frequent fevers accompanied by malaise and fatigue, and may come on suddenly and then disappear after a short time.
  • Rashes = A child with JA can develop rashes. These rashes differ from a normal rash because they typically develop over the knuckles, across the cheeks, or the bridge of the nose. They may not be itchy or oozing and they may persist for days or weeks.
  • Weight Loss = If a child seems fatigued, lacks an appetite, and is losing rather than gaining weight it is a sign that the problem could be JA.
  • Eye Problems = Persistent eye redness, pain, or blurred vision may be a sign of something more serious such as JA.  

Both PT and OT play an important role in the treatment plan for a child with JA. Physical therapy is used to help children regain strength and range of motion that may have been lost during a flare up. Research has shown that each time a kid has an active flare up they lose some strength, but only regain back a portion of the lost strength when a flare up subsides. Occupational therapy tends to concentrate more on hand function during activities of daily living (i.e. dressing, eating, and bathing), as well as provide adaptations and recommend accommodations to make daily tasks easier and decrease stress on the joints.

Be sure to check out these links below for more information on juvenile arthritis, and if you are concerned your child may have juvenile arthritis contact your pediatrician and schedule an appointment.

http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org/

http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/

-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT

Pediatric Physical Therapist

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