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When someone uses the term arthritis, most of us automatically picture an individual past retirement age rubbing her hands in discomfort. A child with these same pains is far removed from our minds, but, in fact, nearly 300,000 children under the age of 16 are affected by it in the United States.
Symptoms
To clarify, the term “Juvenile Arthritis” is more of a blanket term that covers a number of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that children under the age of 16 deal with. They have symptoms resembling that of the arthritis we’re accustomed to -- joint pain, swelling and stiffness -- which can be severe or almost non-existent. Some types of juvenile arthritis affect the musculoskeletal system, but can also involve the eyes, muscles, skin or even gastrointestinal tract.
Regardless of how the symptoms surface, none of us want to see our child in such pain. Of course, your child’s doctor is going to suggest medical ways to help, but you can also do some things at home to ease the burden of constant pain. One of the most effective home treatments is warm hydrotherapy in a hot tub.
Hydrotherapy
In fact, warm hydrotherapy is an excellent way to alleviate strain on joints and muscles for anyone, but especially for someone dealing with a chronic condition. The buoyancy of the water reduces strain from gravity, and the warm water and massage jets are able to penetrate the body to loosen and relax. The recommendation is a 20 minute soak (including moderate stretching movements while in the hot tub) at least once a day to maintain the therapeutic effects.
Leisure Works would be honored to help you find a hot tub model that is beneficial to your whole family, and provides the best hydrotherapy features to help your child see less days of pain and more days just enjoying being a kid. Give us a call to find out more!
