Sports and recreational activities are important for children with arthritis to develop confidence in their physical abilities. Try to let your child pick her own sport or activity of interest, while guiding her toward one that will not hurt her joints. Strong muscles and joint protection are the keys to participating in sports. Although contact sports are never recommended, even aggressive sports like soccer and basketball may not be off limits for your child. Ask your doctor or therapist for guidelines.
Protective equipment can further reduce the risk of injury.
Your child's health team can help you pick up the signals telling you when and whether your child is overdoing it. Adapted from a pamphlet originally prepared for the Arthritis Foundation. This material is protected by copyright. Disclaimer Please honor our copyrights and disclaimer. All rights reserved.