Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most frequent encountered rheumatic disease in children. The clinical picture of the JIA is very extensive and diversified, including joint manifestations as well as extraarticular manifestations. The present paper desires to be an informative guide concerning the recognition of the disease manifestations in all seven subtypes: systemic arthritis, oligoarthritis (pauciarticular form), polyarticular (rheumatoid factor positive), polyarticular (rheumatoid factor negative), psoriatic arthritis, enthesitis related arthritis, other (Durban, 1997). Also it is essayed to lay down some indications regarding the physical therapy of the tree phases of the disease: acute, sub-acute and chronic. Taken in to consideration that the principal damage and the most invalidating is articular, and the localization is so diversified, there are presented in a concise manner programs of active exercises for each joint, together with the different means of ludic therapy. The precocity of instituting the physical therapy and the continuity of the treatment at the JIA patients residence constitute two of the specialists goals and also the key to ad optimum recovery of this disease.