Resources for People with Arthritis
Physical activity programs, like EnhanceFitness and Walk with Ease, maintain joint strength, flexibility, mobility, and decreases joint pain.
Walk with Ease ā Group Program
Walk with Ease, a program of the Arthritis Foundation, is designed for people with arthritis and those without arthritis that would like to begin a regular walk program.
Walk with Ease is a multi-component program that includes walking, health education, stretching and strengthening exercises, and motivational strategies.
Walk with Ease meets 3 times a week for 6 weeks and is led by a trained leader.
Walk with Ease benefits include increased physical activity, increased walking distance and speed, decreased pain, and decreased depression.
Learn more at on the Arthritis Foundation website: www.arthritis.org/wwe.
Walk with Ease ā Self Led Program
Complete the
Walk With Ease program on your own with the program workbook. The program workbook provides all the tools you need to develop a walking plan, stay motivated, manage your pain and learn how to exercise safely and comfortably.
Learn more at on the Arthritis Foundation website: www.arthritis.org/wwe.
EnhanceFitness (EF)
EnhanceFitness is a community-delivered exercise program proven to increase strength, boost activity levels, and elevate mood. Certified instructors offer a program that focuses on stretching, flexibility, balance, low impact aerobics, and strength training exercises. Typically, classes meet three times a week for one hour. To learn more visit the EnhanceFitness website:
http://www.projectenhance.org/EnhanceFitness.aspx
Self-Management programs, like Stanford's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), or Healthier Living, help individuals with arthritis and their caregivers learn how to manage and control arthritis symptoms.
CDSMP programs meet 2 Ā½ hours once a week for six weeks. Program workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders and held in a variety of community settings. Program workshops are highly interactive and focus on support, sharing, skill development, and building confidence to manage a chronic health condition. Programs will not conflict with existing programs or treatment.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Healthier Living is a self-management education program for people with chronic health conditions including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease. The workshop covers topics such as: techniques to deal with problems associated with chronic health conditions, appropriate exercise, appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health care professionals, nutrition, and how to evaluate new treatments. Participants who took a
Healthier Living workshop demonstrated significant improvements in exercise, the ability to do social and household activities, less depression, fear, and frustration about their health, reduction in symptoms like pain, and increased confidence in their ability to manage their chronic health condition. For
Healthier Living resources, see below.
Find a program near you by visiting the
California Healthier Living website.
Tomando Control de su Salud Program
Tomando Control de su Salud is a self-management education program developed for Spanish-speaking people with chronic health conditions including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease. All workshops are given in Spanish without translators. This program is similar in content and process to the English language version of CDSMP, but
Tomando Control de su Salud was developed in Spanish to address the health topics in culturally appropriate manner. The workshop covers topics such as: appropriate use of the health care system, how to evaluate new treatments, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health care professionals, healthy eating, appropriate use of medications, techniques to deal with problems, and appropriate exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance. For
Tomando Control de su Salud resources, see below. Find a program near you by visiting the
California Healthier Living website.
Additional Resources
Learn about
Arthritis Basics from CDC
Watch the
CDC Arthritis Pain Reliever video
Arthritis Foundation's Resources for
Living with Arthritis