Policy
An estimated 53.2 million adults in the United States are affected by some form of arthritis.
Many Americans with OA face chronic pain and functional limitations, which often results in job loss and reduced quality of life. OA pain can also inhibit physical activity which interferes with the management of other chronic conditions. Our country suffers, too. It is dragged down by the social and economic costs of OA. This disease is the most common cause of disability, and it contributes to escalating health care spending and limits national productivity. That is why the Arthritis Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a blueprint for action to address osteoarthritis, which is detailed in A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis.
There is an urgent need for action to reduce the burden of OA.
The OA Action Alliance was mobilized in 2011 to advance the recommendations set forth in A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis (2010). As a coalition of organizations concerned about osteoarthritis, the OA Action Alliance is empowered to raise awareness collectively and bring education and an extensive network of resources to bear toward reducing this burden.
The National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis: 2020 Update continues to be guided by the vision, goals, and guiding principles set forth in 2010 but is also focused on current public health practices.
However, the goals can only be achieved by involving the broadest array of stakeholders: health care providers, policy and other decision makers, communication and marketing specialists, the business community, insurers, non-governmental agencies, and researchers.
This coalition is committed to elevating OA as a national health priority and promoting effective policy solutions that aim to address the individual and national toll of OA. In addition, this coalition, with the public health community, will work to ensure people with OA have the access, skills, and capacity to benefit from effective and proven interventions.
Learn more about the OA Agenda.
Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity among Adults with Arthritis
The Physical Activity Implementation Guide provides strategies and implementation tools for six sectors that play a crucial role in promoting and sustaining physical activity for adults with arthritis. For each sector, there are recommended strategies, resources, and tools are provided. Click on your sector today to learn how you can help increase physical activity for adults with arthritis. You can also view the complete policy guide in the Environmental and Policy Strategies to Increase Physical Activity for Adults with Arthritis.
- Community and Public Health
- Health Care
- Transportation, Land Use, and Community Design
- Business and Industry
- Park, Recreation, Fitness and Sport
- Mass Media and Communication
If you would like to help us shape the policy agenda of the OA Action Alliance, join us.
Current policies, calls to action, legislative position statements, guidelines, and public health agendas from various OAAA members and government agencies.
