Juvenile arthritis is a diagnosis primary care clinicians, including nurse practitioners, may encounter in children and adolescents with joint pain, swelling, stiffness, limp, fatigue, or unexplained fever or rash. Early recognition matters, because timely treatment can reduce pain, preserve function, and help prevent long-term joint damage.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in kids and teens, and symptoms can be subtle early on. Common features include morning stiffness, swollen or warm joints, limp, fatigue, rash, and sometimes eye symptoms or systemic features such as fever.

Current CDC data estimate that about 220,000 U.S. children and adolescents under 18 had diagnosed arthritis during 2017–2021, with the highest prevalence in ages 12–17.

These patients may also need school accommodations and multidisciplinary follow-up depending on subtype and severity.

Parents may come across misleading information online, so it can help to gently correct a few common myths. Juvenile arthritis is not just “growing pains,” it does not always cause obvious swelling right away, and a child can look well even when the disease is active.

It is also not true that every child simply grows out of it; some children improve, but others need longer-term follow-up and treatment.

• It’s not just growing pains.
• It may not always look dramatic at first.
• A child can appear well and still have active disease.
• Not every child simply “outgrows” juvenile arthritis.

Treatment for juvenile arthritis usually focuses on reducing inflammation, relieving pain, preserving joint function, and helping the child stay active and engaged in daily life.

The Mayo Clinic notes that treatment may include medicines such as NSAIDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and biologic therapies, along with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and sometimes corticosteroid injections or other supportive care depending on the subtype and severity.

In practice, care is often individualized and may also involve ophthalmology monitoring and other specialist input when eye involvement or systemic features are a concern.

When a child with juvenile arthritis is still in pain or not responding well to treatment, families often explore complementary and alternative therapies, but these should be used alongside, not instead of, medical care. Some approaches such as exercise, massage, yoga, and acupuncture may help with symptoms, while supplements and CBD require extra caution because the evidence is limited and safety, dosing, and medication interactions are not always clear.

Clinicians who want to review current information on juvenile arthritis can visit:

• CDC: Arthritis Among Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years — United States, 2017–2021
• Mayo Clinic: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis — Symptoms and causes
• Mayo Clinic: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis — Diagnosis and treatment
• Cincinnati Children’s: 8 Misconceptions about Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama: 6 Myths (and Facts) about Juvenile Arthritis
• Allergy Institute: Myths and Facts About Juvenile Arthritis
• HealthCentral: (Video) Fake or Fact? Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Edition
• Arthritis Foundation: CAM Therapies to Try for Juvenile Arthritis
• Arthritis Foundation: Federal Laws That Support Kids With JA in School
  

If you know a college student with an interest in healthcare, now is a good time to encourage them to apply for the 2026 Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP).

Our 2026 program runs from July 7 to July 31, and applications are now open. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 8, 2026.

Many students are interested in careers such as nursing, medicine, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, or occupational therapy, but have limited opportunities to see what those paths actually look like in day-to-day practice. The Healthcare Immersion Program helps bridge that gap through structured shadowing, mentorship, and guided reflection.

HIP is a four-week summer program that allows participants to learn directly from licensed clinicians in real care settings, observe a range of clinical roles, and gain greater clarity and confidence about their future direction.

HIP is not a classroom simulation. It is real clinical exposure in real care settings.

Students in the program have the opportunity to:

• Shadow licensed clinicians (preceptors) as they care for patients
  
• Observe different healthcare roles, not just one pathway
• Learn directly from professionals who enjoy mentoring students
• Build clarity and confidence about their future direction
• Reflect on what they are seeing through weekly clinical conferences

Many students describe HIP as the moment when healthcare stops feeling abstract and starts to feel possible.

HIP is designed to provide substantial clinical exposure while remaining flexible enough to fit around summer work, classes, and other commitments.

During the four-week program, students typically:

• Complete shadowing in 4-hour blocks during standard weekday hours
  
• Participate in at least two shadowing sessions per week, with opportunities to do more
• Join weekly clinical conferences for guided reflection and learning
• Take part in surgery observation later in the program
• Log approximately 80 to 100 total hours

Students share their availability at the start of the program, and schedules are coordinated accordingly.

HIP is open to college students who:

• Have completed at least one year of college
  
• Are interested in exploring a healthcare career
• Are curious, reliable, and ready to learn
  

This program is ideal for students who want more than general advice or online research. It is for students who are ready to gain firsthand exposure to healthcare settings and begin making more informed decisions about their future.

Students applying to HIP will need to submit:

• High school transcripts
• College or university transcripts to date
• Letter or letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• A copy of photo ID
• Vaccination record

If selected for the program, students may also be required to receive additional vaccinations as required by Jackson Orthopedic Foundation’s clinical partners.

Program fee and scholarships
The program fee for HIP is $500. Scholarships are available for students with financial need. 

By supporting the Healthcare Immersion Program, you help more students access early clinical learning, mentorship, and the kind of real-world experience that can shape a future in healthcare. Your gift helps build a stronger, more prepared healthcare workforce.

We are relaunching the Orthopalooza series with Musculoskeletal Fundamentals, our most popular course, built specifically for primary care clinicians who want practical, real-world confidence managing common muscle, bone, and joint conditions.

You will strengthen your ability to:

•  Perform focused MSK exams
•  Improve diagnostic reasoning
•  Interpret imaging
•  Make safe, scope-appropriate treatment decisions
•  Build procedural confidence

Orthopalooza is ideal for:

• Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and APRNs
• Physicians and other advanced practice providers
• Clinicians in primary care, urgent care, and outpatient settings
• Providers early in their MSK journey or looking to refresh and refine existing skills
  

Have a colleague who would benefit from stronger MSK confidence in primary care? Please feel free to share this with them. We would love to welcome them too!

Primary care is often the best place to treat common muscle, bone, and joint problems, and winter makes that role especially clear. As colder temperatures, seasonal storms, and disrupted routines affect how people move and work, musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints become a frequent reason for primary care and urgent care visits. 

During the current Arctic blast, for example, many nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers are likely seeing how slippery surfaces, heavy lifting, cold-related stiffness, deconditioning, and winter sports contribute to predictable injury patterns. 

Following are common winter MSK injury patterns, how they typically present, and practical insights intended to support primary care clinicians in delivering confident, nonsurgical care.

In regions with snow, ice, or freezing rain, falls remain a leading cause of winter MSK injury, especially among older adults.

Common presentations

• Wrist fractures from falls on an outstretched hand
• Ankle sprains or fractures
• Hip fractures or contusions
• Shoulder contusions, dislocations, or rotator cuff injuries

Primary care approach

• Pay close attention to mechanism, particularly in older patients
• Obtain plain radiographs when fracture is suspected
• Manage stable injuries with immobilization, analgesia, and early physical therapy
• Use winter visits to address fall risk, footwear, balance, and home safety

Even seemingly minor winter falls can result in significant injury, especially in patients with osteoporosis or balance issues. Careful history, exam, and first-line imaging often determine whether these patients can be managed safely in primary care or require escalation.

Snow shoveling or any seasonal heavy lifting frequently leads to acute MSK complaints.

Common presentations

• Acute low back strain
• Cervical or thoracic paraspinal muscle strain
• Shoulder and rotator cuff flares
  

Primary care approach

• Screen for neurologic deficits or red flags
• Avoid early imaging unless trauma or neurologic symptoms are present
• Emphasize conservative care:
  • Activity modification
  • NSAIDs or acetaminophen
  • Early mobility and gradual return to activity

These injuries often result from poor biomechanics combined with sudden, unaccustomed load, and are frequently seen in patients who are otherwise inactive for much of the year.

Learn more about shoulder injuries in our Online Mini Course The Painful Shoulder (10 hours)

Winter sports contribute a steady stream of MSK injuries, many of which can be managed nonsurgically.

Common presentations

• Knee ligament injuries (ACL, MCL)
  
• Shoulder dislocations or AC joint injuries
• “Skier’s thumb” (ulnar collateral ligament injury)
• Wrist sprains or occult fractures
  

Primary care approach

• Start with X-rays to rule out fracture
  
• Use bracing and activity modification early
• Reserve MRI for suspected significant ligament or meniscal injury when results will change management
• Most patients improve with structured rehabilitation rather than surgery

Only a small proportion of winter sports injuries ultimately require operative care.

For many patients, reassurance and a clear recovery plan are just as important as imaging. Setting expectations early around healing time, activity modification, and rehabilitation can reduce unnecessary follow-up visits and referrals.

Even without snow or ice, winter increases MSK injury risk due to colder temperatures and changes in activity patterns.

Common presentations

• Hamstring, calf, or quadriceps strains
• Achilles or patellar tendinopathy flares
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shin splints or early stress reactions

Primary care approach

• Recognize sudden changes in activity, footwear, or training surface
• Emphasize warm-up, load management, and gradual progression
• Imaging is usually unnecessary early unless stress fracture is suspected

Cold muscles and tendons are less compliant, increasing injury risk without adequate preparation. These presentations often test diagnostic confidence, especially when deciding whether imaging is necessary or conservative care is appropriate.

Learn more about lower extremity conditions in our Online Lower Extremity and Inflammatory Conditions Course (65 hours)

Indoor exercise and home-related injuries
As more people move workouts indoors during winter, injury patterns shift.

Common presentations

• Shoulder impingement or rotator cuff irritation
• Wrist and elbow overuse injuries
• Low back strain from poor ergonomics or floor exercises

Primary care approach

• Ask where and how patients are exercising
• Address technique, volume, and recovery rather than default imaging
• Early physical therapy can prevent progression to chronic pain
• Simple questions about equipment, technique, and recent changes in routine often reveal the underlying cause.

Winter often worsens symptoms of chronic MSK conditions, even in the absence of injury.

Common presentations

• Knee, hip, hand, and spine osteoarthritis flares
• Increased stiffness and reduced morning mobility

Primary care approach

• Encourage movement rather than prolonged rest
• Adjust analgesic strategies seasonally
• Reinforce strengthening and joint-protective activity

Clear guidance on movement and pain management can help prevent unnecessary imaging or escalation during seasonal symptom flares.

Primary care is often the best place to treat common muscle, bone, and joint problems. Urgent referral is warranted for:

• Inability to bear weight
• Neurovascular compromise
• Obvious deformity or unstable fracture
• Red-flag spine symptoms

Most winter MSK injuries, however, can be managed confidently in primary care with conservative treatment and close follow-up. Clear referral thresholds help clinicians reassure patients while ensuring timely escalation when it truly matters.

Winter looks different depending on where you practice, and the musculoskeletal patterns you see may vary by region and patient population. If you’re noticing winter-related MSK patterns in your clinic – whether tied to cold weather, activity changes, or recovery challenges – we’d love to hear what you’re seeing.

Feel free to join the conversation on our social channels and share what winter looks like in your practice.

We understand how full your schedule is. That’s why Jackson Orthopedic Foundation’s online Orthopedic Primary Care (OPC) courses are designed to work around your life, not add to your stress. Learn MSK diagnosis, imaging, nonsurgical treatment options, injections, and more:

• 100% online and self-paced, so you can learn when it works for you
• 10–65 CE hours per course, from MSK fundamentals to deeper clinical dives
• Online mini-courses: $65 / 10 hours
• Full online courses: $300 / 65 hours
• Discount bundles available if you want to go deeper
• Designed to help you manage muscle, bone, and joint conditions with confidence and reduce unnecessary referrals
• Nationally accredited, so CEs are accepted in all 50 states
• Apply what you learn right away in your practice
  

Every course you take helps close the musculoskeletal education gap and improves care for the patients and communities you serve.

Warmest thanks for all you do, and for considering Jackson Orthopedic Foundation as your MSK education partner in the year ahead.

Yours in good health,
The JOF team

This year, our community achieved incredible milestones together:

Orthopalooza sold out!
Our summer 2-day Orthopalooza workshop in July filled every seat, a true testament to the growing demand for hands-on, practical musculoskeletal education.

Reviews from our students were overwhelmingly positive:

• "Great program!"
• "Thank you so much, there's such a need in our practice."
• "I feel like I can better assess and treat patients, as well as gain confidence with injections."
  
  

Record participation in our Healthcare Immersion Program
More college students than ever joined us this summer for our month-long exploration of future healthcare careers, including learning shadowing clinicians as they treated patients.

Our students' feedback says it all:

• "The passion from all of the instructors and professionals was truly contagious. I felt so comfortable to learn vulnerably and ask questions."
• "I learned about professions that I have never thought of before. Thanks to JOF, I am now more sure than ever that I want to enter the medical field."
• "I had the opportunity to meet incredible people, learn a great deal, and gain confidence in my career choice."
  
  

Helped students in need
We awarded 8 scholarships to help clinicians in financial need to access musculoskeletal education, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful donors.

A successful Canes Gala 
Our Halloween-themed 8th Annual Canes Gala brought together friends, students, and supporters to celebrate our mission, and raise vital funds for scholarships and programs.

1. Learn
Advance your MSK skills with our nationally accredited courses. Our online option is great for last-minute CEs (as few as 10 hours per course) -- or you can really expand your knowledge with our 65-hour online courses.

New for 2026: based on your feedback, we're reformulating our Orthopalooza hands-on workshops. Watch for news soon on our Spring re-launch!

2. Donate
Your support fuels education programs that equip clinicians and students with vital musculoskeletal (MSK) care skills -- improving patient outcomes, advancing careers, and strengthening communities. Together, we’re building a healthier future by ensuring more providers are confident, capable, and ready to meet the growing need for quality MSK care.

3. Share
Tell your colleagues about our courses and mission, and help expand the circle of care. When more clinicians -- especially those in primary care -- gain proper MSK training, patients receive better care, referrals are reduced, practices perform more efficiently, and clinicians strengthen their skills and career prospects.

Thank you for learning, sharing, and giving from the heart. Together, we’re building a healthier future where every patient has access to the care they need to move, live, and thrive.

With gratitude,

The JOF Team

Our 8th Annual Canes Gala, held on October 26, 2025, was a big hit! This family-friendly Halloween celebration at Creekside Commons was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, sharing good food, laughter, and community spirit. Guests mingled over a festive buffet and delicious non-alcoholic drinks, browsed the silent auction table, and enjoyed reconnecting with friends old and new.

The event program was filled with inspiration and insight. Our emcee Tim Hart opened the program with introductions and reflections on JOF’s 27-year journey. Elisabeth Andreason shared a heartfelt donor’s perspective, followed by Kathleen Geier, Rachel Chen, and Sheila Teker, who shone a spotlight on our incredible students.

A highlight of the afternoon was the panel discussion on musculoskeletal (MSK) education, featuring Catherine Tanner, DNP, FNP-C; J. Theodore Schwartz, MD; and Angela Traverso Ruthnick, DPT, OCS, moderated by Michaela Hayes. Guests also enjoyed viewing and voting on JOF student videos that brought our mission to life.

As always, the silent auction was a crowd favorite, closing with more than 120% of our fundraising goal achieved!

We captured some wonderful moments from the day, from colorful costumes to candid smiles and heartfelt conversations. Browse the photo gallery below to see the highlights, thanks to our talented volunteer photographer, Lisa Duncan.

You can also watch the student videos that premiered at the event – showcasing how our programs inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. View the student videos on YouTube.

More than just a party, Canes is our most important fundraiser of the year. The event supports our educational programs and helps provide scholarships for students with financial need. Every dollar raised helps us empower clinicians with essential nonsurgical skills – bridging critical knowledge gaps in musculoskeletal (MSK) care and improving outcomes for patients everywhere.

Every clinician trained through JOF’s programs is like the proverbial pebble in a pond, creating ripples that touch countless lives.

A heartfelt thank-you goes to our sponsors: The Andreason Group at Morgan Stanley, Dr. Peter and Jacqueline Slabaugh, Ash Creek Vineyards, Social Change Consulting, Patricia Heffernan-Bourke, and Kate Raiford and Matt Sturtevant.

Your generosity made Canes possible and helps us continue training the next generation of musculoskeletal care providers.

Funds raised at Canes directly support JOF’s nationally accredited, flagship education program, Orthopedic Primary Care (OPC),  a growing suite of online, live, and hybrid courses offering clinicians flexible and affordable ways to gain the skills they need.

Canes also helps sustain our Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP), which provides college students with a hands-on, month-long summer experience shadowing healthcare professionals and inspiring future careers in musculoskeletal care.

If you couldn’t attend or didn’t get a chance to bid in the auction, you can still support our mission. Your contribution fuels education, strengthens patient care, and creates a healthier future for us all.

Thank you for being part of the JOF community – and for everything you do to advance musculoskeletal health education. We’re so grateful for your continued support and look forward to what’s ahead together.

Yours in good health,
The Jackson Orthopedic Foundation Team

Join Us for the 8th Annual Canes Gala! The leaves are turning, the pumpkins are out, and that can only mean one thing - Canes is back!

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, we’ll gather at Creekside Commons in Lafayette, CA, for an afternoon filled with food, fun, and purpose. This is more than just a Halloween celebration - it’s our most important fundraiser of the year, supporting scholarships and training for today's and tomorrow's clinicians.

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
• Time: Doors open 3 p.m. | Program 4:30–5:30 p.m.
• Location: Creekside Commons, Lafayette, California
• Tickets: Pay what you can – everyone can join!
  

A Family-Friendly Halloween Celebration
Costumes are optional (but encouraged), kids are welcome, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy:

• A delicious, seasonally themed buffet with warming, festive drinks
• Student video “treats” that inspire and delight
• An online silent auction full of unique finds
• Time to connect with clinicians, students, preceptors, alumni, and friends

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions – affecting muscles, bones, and joints – are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. In the U.S. alone, more than one in three people live with an MSK condition, and nearly half of all primary care visits involve a bone, muscle, or joint complaint. Yet most healthcare providers receive little training in how to manage these issues.

That’s where Jackson Orthopedic Foundation comes in. Through our nationally accredited Orthopedic Primary Care (OPC) courses, and our Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP) for college students, we equip current and future clinicians with the skills they need to deliver better care, reduce unnecessary referrals, and improve outcomes for patients.

Your support - whether by attending or sponsoring Canes, donating, or spreading the word – directly fuels this training. Together, we’re creating a stronger healthcare workforce and helping patients lead fuller, healthier lives.

Want to make an even bigger difference? Consider sponsoring Canes - we have several levels that could be a great fit for you or your company.

Our 2025 Healthcare Immersion Program finished last week, and we wanted to take a moment and extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible clinical preceptors and coordinators who helped make this summer’s program such a meaningful and impactful experience for our students: our preceptors.

Golden State Orthopedics & Spine:

• Dr. Louay Toma, MD
• Dr. Alex Bradley, MD
• Dr. Abid A. Qureshi, MD
• Dr. Jonathan Ochoa, MD
• Dr. Michael Sacco, MD
• Dr. Hany Elrashidy, MD
• With special thanks to site coordinators Maggie Stroud and Valerie Petroni
  

Motion Analysis Research Center, Samuel Merritt University (MARC):

• Stephen Hill, PhD

Touro University:

• Angela M. Abuda
• Victor Nuno, DO
  
• Clinical staff and students
  

Webster Outpatient Surgery Center:

• J. Theodore Schwartz, MD
• Sandy Leong
• With special thanks to nurse and surgery center manager/coordinator Patti Norcross

NorCal Orthopedic Surgery Center:

• With special thanks to nurse and surgery center manager/coordinator Zoe Calara

Stanford Health Care:

• Aaron Salyapongse, MD
  
• Robin Mercer, PA-C
  
• Victoria Redmond, PA-C
• Nina Ramos
• Kathy Segura
• Special thanks to Mary K. Dunn, Jordan Payne, and Daniel David for coordinating our visit
  
  

On behalf of everyone at Jackson Orthopedic Foundation: thank you. We’re grateful to partner with you in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Meanwhile, our mission hasn’t changed: We’re here to transform musculoskeletal care through high-quality education,and that includes making sure vital training stays within reach while we evolve our programs.

That’s why, as we take time to reshape Orthopalooza, we’re offering a $50 discount on our nationally certified Spine & Metabolic Conditions online course – so clinicians can continue building their skills without delay.

This 65-hour, self-paced course is packed with practical, evidence-based knowledge you can put into practice right away. CEs earned with JOF are valid in any state.

👉 Use code SPINE50 at checkout to enroll for just $250 (normally $300). This offer ends October 31.

Spine

• Spine anatomy in relation to pain and dysfunction
• Pathologies contributing to spine disorders
• Components of a focused spine history and systematic physical examination
• Special tests used to evaluate spine complaints and form differential diagnoses
• Indications for diagnostic imaging and other tests used to evaluate spine conditions
• Recognizing “red and yellow flags” associated with spine conditions
• Identification of spine emergencies requiring immediate referral
• Development of treatment plans based on etiology and persistence of spine conditions
• Self-management of common spine conditions based on etiology and persistence

Metabolic conditions

• Components of a thorough medical history pertinent to metabolic bone conditions
• Recognizing metabolic bone emergencies requiring immediate consultation or referral
• Relating physical findings to differential diagnoses in metabolic bone conditions
• Evidence-based treatment plans for commonly encountered metabolic bone conditions

Imaging

• Identification of gross musculoskeletal anatomy on imaging studies
• Identification and description of fractures on X-rays
• Selection of appropriate imaging for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions