To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Staying Active Helps Reduce Arthritis Symptoms -- Arthritis Foundation URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/246B2.htm Doctor's Guide April 24, 1997
ATLANTA, April 24, 1997 -- Exercise means more than just keeping fit for the nearly 40 million Americans affected by arthritis -- it means taking charge of their condition, according to the Arthritis Foundation. During National Arthritis Month this May, the Arthritis Foundation is encouraging people to Stay Active with Arthritis(sm) Through Physical Activity and Education. "According to the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, regular, moderate physical activity can benefit people by decreasing fatigue, building stronger muscles and bones, increasing energy, flexibility and stamina, and improving general health and the sense of well-being," said Doyt Conn, M.D., senior vice president of medical affairs for the Arthritis Foundation. "After two to three months of exercising, most people also report less pain, anxiety and depression." The Arthritis Foundation offers these exercise tips to help you Stay Active with Arthritis(sm): -- Choose exercises you want to do - combine activities your doctor or other health professional recommends with some of your favorite exercises; -- Choose a specific time and place to exercise - keep this consistent; -- Start your program gradually - especially if you haven't exercised in a while; and -- Ask a family member or friend to support your decision to take charge of arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation encourages people with arthritis to work with their doctor and other members of their health-care team to develop an exercise program. "It's also important to keep your health-care team informed about your progress," said Conn. An informational poster and an exercise booklet on staying active with arthritis is available nationwide at physician offices. A video news release and PSAs are available to broadcast media through local Arthritis Foundation chapters. All these materials have been made possible by an educational grant from Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, a recognized leader in the research and treatment of arthritis. In addition to staying active with arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation recommends the following steps: -- Control your weight - Staying close to your recommended weight can help reduce stress on weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips. Studies show that overweight people who lose weight can reduce their risk of knee osteoarthritis by up to 50 percent. -- Protect your joints - Use your joints in ways that avoid excessive stress and make it easier to do daily tasks, either through appropriate body mechanics or use of inexpensive devices that make tasks easier. -- Save your energy - Balance periods of activity with periods of rest to help reduce fatigue and to protect joints from the stress of repeated tasks. For more information about staying active with arthritis, including a free exercise brochure, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-283-7800, or visit the foundation's site on the World Wide Web, http://www.arthritis.org. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.