Arthritis includes over 100 different conditions and diseases that affect the body’s bones, cartilage, joints, muscles and other connective tissues.  Though commonly attributed to the effects of aging or as a consequence of an injury, arthritic conditions are actually the result of inflammation or are an autoimmune condition.  Arthritis conditions and diseases usually affect the body’s ability to move, hampering and sometimes completely halting physical movement.

When arthritic conditions affect children 16 or younger, they are covered by the umbrella term juvenile arthritis or JA.  There are several different types of Juvenile Arthritis.  Some of which affect not only the joints and other connective tissues but may also affect the eyes, the skin and have gastrointestinal effects as well.  There are several different kinds of JA, the most common being juvenile idiopathic arthritis or JIA.Read More >