Arthritis Foundation Launches Physical Activity Campaign!

January 28, 2008

"Physical Activity. The Arthritis Pain Reliever." This is the message the Arthritis Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hope everyone hears, gets, and acts on immediately. The message is so important and holds so much potential to bring pain relief to millions of Americans, these three organizations have pooled their resources to fund a nation-wide media campaign to promote it.

"Here in Northern California, there are a multitude of ways people can become physically active, if they are not already," says Deborah Jackson, Vice President of Programs at the Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter. "The activity available to almost everyone, particularly with our generally mild California climate, is walking. Walking is something one can do at a moment's notice, alone or in a group, and it is free, except for the cost of a good pair of walking shoes. Walking can bring enormous physical benefits, particularly to someone with arthritis or someone who hopes to prevent arthritis."

The Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter has put together the following list of walking resources including walking clubs, trails, shopping malls, and even high school tracks for people who want more variety in their walk locales than their own neighborhoods or towns:

If walking is not the physical activity of choice, there are many other possibilities. The Arthritis Foundation offers its Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program at 27 different locations in Northern California and offers its land exercise class, the Arthritis Exercise Program, at eight locations. More sites are expected to be added soon.

There are lots of other physical activity choices besides those listed here. Find the one that is right for you. Just remember to always check with your doctor for clearance before getting started on any physical activity. Here's a link to more information about exercise and arthritis.

Still not persuaded that physical activity really can be an arthritis pain reliever for you? Check out the statistics at the following links, and then GET MOVING!