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Notice to Readers: National Arthritis Month --- May 2007
May is National Arthritis Month. Arthritis affects approximately 46 million persons of both sexes and all ages and races,
and is the most common physical cause of disability in the United States. The national prevalence of arthritis and
arthritis-attributable activity limitations are both projected to increase substantially as the population ages.
This year's theme is Walk for Wellness, which is intended to remind those with arthritis that walking, a simple and
readily available form of physical activity, is an effective but underused intervention for managing arthritis. Walking is a
low-impact exercise appropriate for most persons with mild or moderate arthritis. Persons with arthritis also can reduce the impact of
the disease by maintaining a healthy weight and pursuing education regarding arthritis self-management. To help those
with arthritis better manage their disease, the Arthritis Foundation offers community-based exercise classes (through the
Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and the Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program) and self-management education
classes (through the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program), both of which have reduced pain and improved function and
mental health among persons with arthritis.
The CDC Arthritis Program helps fund 36 state arthritis programs designed to increase the quality of life among
persons affected by arthritis by implementing recommendations in the National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy.
The program also promotes progress toward reaching the arthritis-related
Healthy People 2010 objectives. Additional
information regarding public health and arthritis is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis. Additional information
regarding local arthritis programs and services is available from the Arthritis Foundation at
http://www.arthritis.org or by telephone at
800-568-4045.
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Health and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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