Kinderklinik Garmisch-Partenkirchen gGmbH

The German Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (GCPAR) in Garmisch – Partenkirchen

Being Europe’s largest Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, we have dedicated ourselves for almost 60 years to all medical and scientific aspects of our specialty. Treatment takes place on the basis of the ‘Garmisch Therapeutic Approach’. This approach unites medical, nursing, physical as well as psycho-social aspects and support for school and vocational training in our clinic school. This holistic and interdisciplinary treatment concept enjoys international reputation. Treatment and pain alleviation are carried out optimally with the support of our interdisciplinary therapeutic services offered. In our own swimming pool, we offer kinesitherapy (exercise therapy) as well as swimming and playing in warm water.

A further highlight of the Paediatric Clinic is its unique location at the border of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian mountains.

Inflammatory-rheumatic diseases in children are clearly different from such diseases affecting adults. The earlier they are diagnosed, the better the therapeutic chances. Infantile rheumatism is a chronic disease occurring not only as chronic inflammations of the joints (juvenile idiopathic arthritis) but also as connective-tissue diseases (collagenosis) and vascular inflammations (vasculitis). The disease requires regular medical care for several years. For this reason, apart from in-patient treatment, we also offer support in creating a patient-centred network of care.

Furthermore, at GCPAR we also treat infantile and adolescent chronic pain diseases. From an interdisciplinary team in the Pain Therapy Station, the patient learns modern strategies to cope with pain. Our aim is to contain pains, to strengthen the patient’s self-confidence, to promote social integration and to make the patient fit for day-to-day life.

Overview of the medical services offered by GCPAR:

Diagnosis and treatment of infantile rheumatism according to the ‘Garmisch Therapeutic Approach’

• In-patient and out-patient support devices
• Clinic school
• Pain-therapy ward
• Experiental education, dance and music therapy as well as hippotherapy
• Swimming pool
• Hot rooms
• Accommodation of parents
• 3 D gait analysis
• Publications
• Internet forums
• Annual rheumatism symposium, pain symposium and other advanced training events
• Counselling physicians (ophthalmologist, orthopaedist, dentist, orthodontist,
• dermatologist)
• Orthopaedic technique
• Naturopathy