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Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
How does JIA affect feet and legs?
Treatment
What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
A condition that causes inflammation and swelling of one or more joints in children under the age of 16. It is the most common cause of chronic arthritis in the UK, impacting 1 in 1,000 children. Approximately 12,000 children have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in the UK.
It can interfere with growth around the affected joint(s) in growing children.
Rheumatologists assess and diagnose the condition.
How does JIA affect feet and legs?
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis can affect the feet and legs by causing:
- differences in leg length
- abnormal growth of toes
- walking problems
- difficulty fitting shoes comfortably
Treatment
A podiatrist can help by assessing a child’s walking pattern (gait).
To relieve pain in knees, hips and ankles a podiatrist can work with you to provide advice on footwear, insoles or splints if needed.
The aim of treatment is to control the symptoms so your child can lead an active, healthy lifestyle.
If your child has a problem which does not improve as you would expect with self-care, you should contact a healthcare professional for advice. This may be your GP, Pharmacist, NHS Podiatry Service or a Private Podiatrist.
Please make sure your podiatrist is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and look out for the letters HCPC after their name.
