juvenile arthritis
‘Floating-in-air’ devices for relaxing and moving painful joints
The best way for relaxing and reducing weight lo exercise arthritic joints is to float in
warm water. When this is not possible, after applying hot soaks (see p. 132), the leg
or arm can be hung in a simple device—loosely, as if floating in water.
145
‘FLOATING’ AN ARTHRITIC LEG
rubber inner
tube or a spring
pillows, sponge
rubber, or soft
material
Adjust the position of the
supports so the leg hangs in
the best position for moving
it easily in all directions.
It helps to wrap the
foot in a figure 8.
After hanging the limb, wait until the child
relaxes, then have him swing it gently this way
and that.
Let the leg move with its own weight as in a
swing. Increase the swinging until the knee and
hip bend and straighten completely (or as much
as possible).
Look for ways to turn the exercise into a game.
For example, the child might knock gourds or blocks down while another child tries
quickly to set them up again, and see who wins.
The gourds can be put farther and farther away so that he has to stretch more each
time to knock them down. When his leg is most stretched, ask him to hold it that way a
moment before letting it bend.
disabled village children