Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists April 2015 | Page 3

Strengthening Versus Balance Exercises for
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
The American Journal of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation published research on 30 children with
juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) comparing the effects of
muscle strengthening exercises versus proprioceptivebalance exercises on lower extremity function.
Each child was evaluated for pain, passive range of
motion, muscle strength, balance, and functional abilities
using the Numeric Rating Scale, goniometer, handheld
dynamometer, Flamingo Balance Test, Functional Reach
Test, 10-meter walking test, 10-stair climbing test, and Childhood Health Assessment
Questionnaire. The participants were randomly assigned to the strengthening exercise group or
the proprioceptive-balance exercise group.
The results indicated the following:
1. statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures were recorded except muscle
strength in the hip and ankle after strengthening exercises.
2. statistically significant improvements were found in all outcome measures after the
proprioceptive-balance exercises.
3. Intergroup analysis showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures in
the proprioceptive-balance exercise group except for the Numeric Rating Scale, Childhood
Health Assessment Questionnaire, and passive range of motion scores and hip extension and
knee flexion muscle strengths.
The researchers concluded that exercise treatment significantly improves musculoskeletal
symptoms in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Balance-proprioceptive exercises were
shown to be more effective than strengthening exercises for improving lower extremity function
such as walking, climbing stairs, and balance in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Reference: Baydogan, Saime Nilay MSc, PT; Tarakci, Ela PhD, PT; Kasapcopur, Ozgur MD.
Effect of Strengthening Versus Balance-Proprioceptive Exercises on Lower Extremity Function
in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Randomized, Single-Blind Clinical Trial. American
Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Published ahead on print on 3/24/15. doi:
10.1097/PHM.0000000000000279
Cross the Beam Game
By: Your Therapy Source
Summary: Download of game that encourages
balance skills and visual perceptual skills.
Find out more at
http://yourtherapysource.com/beam.html

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