Rheumatology
The service provides expertise for children and adolescents who
suffer from a wide variety of childhood rheumatology conditions and
inflammatory diseases as well as musculoskeletal problems, which
may include:
- juvenile arthritis
- uveitis
- juvenile onset lupus
- juvenile dermatomyositis
- rare forms of paediatric vasculitis
- mechanical joint pain
- functional difficulties associated with hypermobility
The occupational therapist in paediatric rheumatology is part of
a multidisciplinary team consisting of consultant doctors and
registrars, specialist nurses, a clinical psychologist and
physiotherapists. The occupational therapy service primarily
consists of outpatient clinics but we may also work with young
people on the wards if their care is led by a paediatric
rheumatology consultant. The service covers the south west of
England and south Wales, so sometimes our patients are coming from
far way to clinics and to have their medication administered on
CIU.
Treatment focuses on enabling the young person to participate
fully in everyday activities which are meaningful to them,
including self-care, accessing school, and leisure activities. This
often involves developing new skills, problem solving with young
people and their parents, making changes to the environment or the
task, and recommendations for equipment.
We set functional goals with young people and their families,
and treatment may include:
- advice regarding everyday activities which will promote hand
function and strength
- increasing range of movement in the hand and upper limb and
grip strength through exercise; this may be to recondition after a
period of active JIA affecting fingers and wrists
- advice and equipment recommendations to support hand writing,
for instance using pen grips or writing slopes
- liaison with schools to help teachers understand the condition
and how it affects a young person
- help to cope with pain and low energy levels by teaching pacing
strategies and activity grading
- Advice on relaxation and sleep
Useful links:
www.arthritisresearchuk.org
www.jia.org.uk
www.bspar.org.uk
