|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

Juvenile Arthritis Leisure Activities

Juvenile arthritis steals the ability to move hands, feet and body easily and without pain. Juvenile arthritis can also steal a childhood that becomes racked with pain instead of the joy of learning and growing physically strong. Many activities are contraindicated for a young person with arthritis. There are, however, many leisure activities in which youths with arthritis can participate that are not only enjoyable, but also beneficial.

  1. High-Impact Sports Warning

    • The crash and smash of sports such as football, basketball, high jump and hurdles adds tremendous stress on joints, bones and muscles of those already suffering from juvenile arthritis. Continued high-impact sports activities contribute to the deterioration of the joints and compounds pain and stiffness. Pain causes the arthritis sufferer to withdraw, which makes continuing any activity, even leisure ones, difficult. However, even those with juvenile arthritis need a certain amount of activity to keep them from losing mobility completely.

    Swimming

    • Activities that cause further damage on land for juveniles with arthritis can often be done safely in water. Pool sports played just for fun, without the drive of competition, can help keep the juvenile with arthritis moving without a great deal of pain. Swimming is a positive activity that stretches and conditions without the high impact that causes further damage to joints. The particular leisure activity chosen depends on where in the cycle of the disease the young person is at any given time. When the disease is flaring, activities should focus on slower movements with more stretch than stress, which makes swimming optimal. When the arthritis isn't flaring, juvenile arthritis leisure activities can, with care and careful monitoring, be increased in speed, impact and range of motion.

    Conditioning

    • When a juvenile suffers pain when active, it becomes easier and easier to eliminate all forms of stress, including social activities, sports and games. Although some activities are no longer advised, it is important to maintain flexibility with leisure activities that help lessen pain. Weaving, drawing and painting all encourage range of motion. Game machines that encourage movement without high impact can help reduce the risk factor of osteoporosis, while the cardiovascular activity conditions the muscles.

    Walking

    • Another leisure activity for those with juvenile arthritis is old-fashioned walking. Strolling around with friends at a mall or park can be an enjoyable and productive leisure activity if the condition of the juvenile with arthritis makes this much walking feasible. Friends may need reminders to keep the pace slow enough so they don't cause their friend with arthritis stress from trying to "keep up."

    Bicycling

    • Bicycling is also a low-impact activity, unless the juvenile with arthritis is going up and down mountains or riding a bike that doesn't fit the size of the rider. Bicycling alone or with friends around the neighborhood or park on a relatively flat area can help legs and arms stay conditioned. If this is too much at any given time, a stationary bike is a good alternative and a leisure activity that conditions muscles while maintaining range of motion.

Childrens Health - Related Articles