/PRNewswire/ -- The Arthritis Foundation today announces the launch of Let's Move Together, a nationwide movement created to improve the quality of life of the one-in-five Americans living with the pain of arthritis.
Let's Move Together is designed to inspire people to move every day to prevent or treat arthritis, encouraging daily physical activity for better health and participation in their local Arthritis Walk--an annual event that promotes fun and fitness.
By the year 2030, an estimated 67 million people in the U.S. will be affected by arthritis, up from current estimates of 46 million. Even more alarming is the fact that the prevalence of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, continues to rise even though it can often be prevented by staying active through enjoyable physical activities such as walking.
"Physical activity, such as walking, is crucial to managing joint pain, improving mobility and reducing fatigue often associated with arthritis," said Patience White, M.D., chief public health officer for the Arthritis Foundation. "It is our hope that the Let's Move Together movement will lead people to take action, both to improve their own lives and the lives of others with arthritis."
People can join Let's Move Together by contacting their local Arthritis Foundation chapter or visiting www.letsmovetogether.org. The Web site offers exercise tips and other suggestions on ways to creatively incorporate movement into daily activities, including links to the Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement Series programs offered to help people become active through arthritis-friendly exercise. The site also showcases uplifting stories of people who are battling arthritis by staying active, a physical activity tracker to help keep users moving all year, and information about Arthritis Walk events around the country. Visitors can even read a blog from others participating in the movement or contribute to message boards on a variety of movement-related topics.
"The Let's Move Together program educates people that is it important to move every day not just one day out of the year," added Dr. White. "By launching this movement in January we hope that people will commit to daily physical activity and continue to move together throughout the year."
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Arthritis Foundation Launches Nationwide Movement Encouraging People to Move to Prevent and Treat Arthritis
