In 2010, the Arthritis Foundation (AF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and partners col­laborated to produce A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis.

The agenda outlined a blueprint for recommended environmental and policy intervention strategies to reduce the burden of this important public health issue. Physical activity was one of the intervention strategies outlined in the agenda. As a result, the AF convened professionals representing areas of expertise related to physical activity and arthritis, as well as various sectors that can influence physical activity levels, to outline key environmental and policy strategies that might facilitate physical activity.

The resulting report – Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults With Arthritis – focuses on the benefits of physical activity and ways to make it more convenient and acces­sible for adults with arthritis. The report also addresses the long-established benefits physical activity has for co-occurring chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It was released at an event in Washington, DC on May 16, 2012. Priority strategies are arthritis-specific and intended to supplement more comprehensive strategies. They should be implemented in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Physical Activity Plan, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and other general evidence-based physical activity recommendations and applicable laws.

The report serves as a call to action for each of six key sectors to collaborate and focus more attention on helping people live well with arthritis and remain active and involved in society.

To read the complete report, click here.