Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 21 (10): 1848-1854, 2014 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.21.10.84168 Corresponding Author: Naglaa Zaki, Department of Physical Therapy For Growth and Development Disorders in Children and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. 1848 Effect of Pulsed Low Frequency Magnetic Field on Balance and Ankle Function in Patients with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Naglaa A. Zaky and Azza M. Atya 1 2 Department of Physical Therapy For Growth and Development Disorders in 1 Children and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt 2 Abstract: Background, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a significant public health problem that frequently restricts patients’ activity with a major impact on the ankle joint stability and function. Magnetic field is recently used treatment options for joint arthritis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pulsed magnetic field on stability of the ankle joint in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects, 30 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (13boys, 17girls), aged from (8-12) years were randomly assigned into two groups: group A(control group) received conservative physical therapy program & group B (magnetic field group) received the same program in addition to pulsed magnetic field. The program was applied 3 times/week for eight weeks. The main outcomes were ankle joint stability [in the form of: overall stability index (OSI), medial/lateral stability index (MLSI), anterior/posterior stability index (APSI)], ankle joint Range of motion and foot functional disability. Results, Patients in magnetic field group showed a significant improvement in the ankle stability, range of motion and reduction in foot functional disability than patients in the control group. Conclusion, Pulsed magnetic field may be an effective in increasing ankle joint stability, range of motion and reducing foot disability in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Key words: Pulsed Magnetic Field Balance Ankle Function Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis INTRODUCTION worldwide incidence between 0.07 and 4.01 per 1000 Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a broad term that thought to be common. It found that around 90% of the describes a clinically heterogeneous group of arthritides children with JIA presented with at least one foot problem of unknown cause, which begin before 16 years of age. from a range of structural and functional problems, This term encompasses several disease categories, such as synovitis, limited range of motion, malalignment each of which has distinct methods of presentation, and deformity [9]. clinical signs and symptoms and, in some cases, genetic Musculoskeletal arthritis is the second most background. The cause of disease is still poorly commonpresenting symptom in JRA [5] and arthralgias understood but seems to be related to both genetic and can precede the arthritis [6, 7]. According to environmental factors, which result in the heterogeneity Behrens et al., 88% of children presented with arthritis [5]. of the illness [1]. In those cases where arthritis was not found initially, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the commonest it typically appeared within a few months; infrequently rheumatic disease in childhood with a variable world wide the arthritis will not present until several years later [8]. prevalence ranging from 0.07 to 4.01 per 1000 children [2], In Behrens et al. [5]’s study, equal distribution between while in the UK the prevalence is estimated at between polyarticular and oligoarticular patterns was noted at 0.65 and 2.0 per 1000 children [3, 4] and a varying presentation (41% polyarticular, 40% oligoarticular and children [3, 4] Foot problems in JIA were previously