Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle joints phonophoresis on dynamic balance in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This study was carried out on thirty children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (eighteen girls & twelve boys) divided into two equal groups (control and study). Their age ranged from six to ten years old. They were selected from the National Institute of Neuromotor disorders and El kasr Elainy (collagen clinic).They were assessed in labs of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University and treated in outpatient clinic of Manshiet El- Bakry Hospital. Their balance were evaluated by using the Biodex balance system equipment for measure (antero-posterior stability index, medio- lateral stability index and overall stability index) and Berg's balance scale before and after three successive months of treatment program. Control group received selected physical therapy program, while the study group received the same selected physical therapy program in addition to ankle joints phonophoresis. Treatment was conducted three times per week for three successive months. The results of this study revealed statistically significant improvement in all measured variables of the control and study groups when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values. However, significant improvement was marked in the study group when comparing the post treatment mean values of the study group with the control group. There was significant reduction in post treatment of overall stability index (p= 0.008), antero-posterior index (p= 0.003) and medio-lateral index (p= 0.01) respectively in favor of study group. There was significant increase in post treatment results of berg scale (p= 0.000) in favor of study group

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