The Effects of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in the Management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a cause of disability in childhood. Little research exists concerning physical therapy management, and no evidence exists for orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) for JIA. The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of OMPT in combination with therapeutic exercise in the successful treatment of a child with oligoarticular JIA.

KEY POINTS: A 6-year-old girl with oligoarticular JIA presented with elbow pain and stiffness interfering with function. Treatment consisted of OMPT in combination with therapeutic exercise and a home exercise program.

CONCLUSIONS: Improvements were demonstrated in elbow range of motion, pain, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, and the Patient Specific Functional Scale.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Orthopedic manual physical therapy may be considered as a treatment of a child with JIA.

RECOMMENDATIONS: We provide evidence that OMPT may be considered as a treatment of a child with JIA.