EFFECTIVENESS OF PASSIVE STRETCHING IN TREATING JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS- A CASE STUDY

Background:Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory arthritis and extra-articular involvement. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that mostly affects the synovial joints.A diverse subset of idiopathic inflammatory arthritis that affects children under 16 and lasts for six weeks or more is known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methodology:A 15-year-old female had juvenile idiopathic arthritis with medical treatment, there was no reduction of pain and led to difficulties in her ADL with restricted joint mobility and reduced ROM. Whereas she was evaluated and treated with specific physiotherapeutic measures for eight months period seven days in a week with specific stretching exercises.

Result:The significant difference were reported from the pre and post test values of pain and also functional improvement with regards to kartz index

Conclusion: Passive stretching, when implemented as part of a comprehensive physiotherapeutic approach, can effectively alleviate the symptoms and improve the quality of life.