Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2012 7:11:46 GMT -6
Report outlines strategies for managing arthritis
6/14/2012 1:08:50 PM
BY STAFF REPORTS
ATLANTA – The Arthritis Foundation has released a report titled “Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults With Arthritis,” a resource for making physical activity convenient and accessible for adults with arthritis.
The report aims to motivate health agencies, businesses, recreation facilities and others to provide physical activity opportunities that meet the needs of people with arthritis.
As the nation’s most common cause of disability, arthritis affects 50 million adults. The Arthritis Foundation estimates 820,000 Oklahomans are affected by arthritis. This number is expected to grow as the population of older Americans continues to increase and as obesity and overweight levels rise.
High rates of arthritis among people with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity make physical activity a critical component of arthritis management.
“The burden of arthritis is staggering, both for our economy and in terms of the physical and emotional toll it takes on individuals with the disease,” Susan Carter, Arthritis Foundation South Central Region CEO, said. “Because physical activity can help individuals with arthritis manage the condition, it is important that our communities take steps to make it more accessible.”
People with arthritis have disease-specific barriers to being physically active, including pain, fear of making their arthritis worse, lack of knowledge about the best type and amount of exercise and fear of injury. However, physical activity has been proven to help decrease pain, delay the onset of disability, improve physical functioning and independence and enhance quality of life for adults with arthritis.
Despite the known benefits, the prevalence of no leisure-time physical activity is much higher among adults with arthritis than those without arthritis, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
For more information on fighting arthritis, visit www.arthritis.org/physical-activity.
The Arthritis Foundation is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of arthritis, which strikes one in every five adults and 300,000 children. To conquer this painful, debilitating disease, the foundation supports education, research, advocacy and other vital programs and services.