May is National Arthritis Month

Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America? Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Warning signs of arthritis include pain, stiffness, swelling, or difficulty moving a joint. To minimize the impact of arthritis, the Florida Department of Health recommends the following:

• Seek an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
• Control your weight.
• Get active.
• Protect your joints.

Self-management practices, including exercise (water exercise, biking, walking) or physical activity (gardening, washing a car, cleaning the house, dancing) are effective in decreasing pain and improving the quality of life for people with arthritis. Becoming more active can improve flexibility and build and maintain muscles to support and protect your joints. It is also important to pace your activities by switching among periods of activity and periods of rest to minimize strain (change position often, plan for rest breaks throughout the day, alternate between repetitive motion tasks and minimal movement tasks, and alternate heavy tasks with light tasks). Protect your joints by maintaining good posture, using longer, stronger muscles when possible, spreading the load over several joints, and using assistive devices when needed.

For more information about arthritis, call the Arthritis Prevention and Education Program at
(850) 245-4330 or the Arthritis Foundation at (800) 283-7800.