Arthritis Foundation Offers Free Self-Help Course in Pleasant Hills

August 7, 2008

Arthritis Foundation Offers Self-Help Course in Pleasant Hills

Pittsburgh, Pa. -- August 7, 2008 -- The Arthritis Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Chapter is pleased to annouce that a Self-Help program, developed specifically for individuals with arthritis, will be held once a week starting on Monday September 8, 2008 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, located at 565 Coal Valley Road in Pleasant Hills.

The Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program, developed at Stanford University, is a group education program that offers an opportunity for those living with arthritis to learn strategies to reduce pain and stress, cope with fatigue, use medications wisely and benefit from exercise. The course series is proven to improve participants’ lives through decreased physician visits, lowered healthcare costs, and reduced pain.  Past participants also have seen benefits that include increased knowledge about their arthritis, increased frequency of exercise and relaxation, increased self-confidence, and decreased depression.  The program is a six week course and will be held every Monday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 The class is free and it is open to the public.  Registration is required by Tuesday, September 2, 2008 as space is limited.  For more information or to register for the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program, please call Kelly Drevitch at 412-566-1645x1102 or kdrevitch@arthritis.org. 

 The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for profit organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. The Foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education, pursuing public policy and legislation and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.arthritis.org.

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