IMPACT OF AQUATIC EXERCISE PROGRAM ON PAIN SEVERITY AND GAIT PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

Background:- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a significant public health problem that frequently restricts patients’ activity with a major impact on gait. Objective:- To investigate the effect of aquatic exercise program on selected gait parameters in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Methods:- Thirty poly-articular Juvenile idiopathic arthritis of both sexes aged from 8-12 were assigned randomly into two groups A&B (control and study) of equal numbers. All patients were evaluated for the following parameters, Pain, knee circumference and gait parameters [Foot off %, Step length (m), Cadence (steps / min), Speed (m /s), Stance phase %, Swing phase%] by 3-D motion analysis Lab before and after treatment program. Subjects in control group received selected physical therapy program (infrared radiation, muscle stretching, strengthening exercises, proprioceptive training, and gait training), whereas subjects in study group received the same selected physical therapy program in addition to aquatic exercise program. The program was applied 3 times/week for 3 successive months. Results:- There was significant improvement in all measured variables in both groups but in favoring to study group (p value <0.05). Conclusion:- Combination of exercise program and aquatic exercise program had significant effect on improving gait parameters and reducing pain in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.