Arthritis foundation exercise program gets an A+: stretching, flexing, range of motion and relaxation exercises are emphasized.

An eight-week group exercise program in which participants meet twice weekly for one hour improves the pain and fatigue of arthritis and helps older adults better manage their arthritis symptoms, according to research published in the January issue of Arthritis Care & Research. The program, called Arthritis Foundation exercise Program, was formerly known as People with Arthritis Can exercise (PACE).

EXERCISES FOR ALL ARTHRITIC CONDITIONS. The improvements are evident by eight weeks and last as long as six months out, the study reported. The program is offered at basic and advanced levels through local branches of the Arthritis Foundation (go to www.arthritis. org, the Foundation's website, to find your local chapter), and focuses on gentle activities that increase joint flexibility and range of motion, and exercises to maintain muscle strength. The exercises can be done while sitting, standing, or on the floor, as well as by wheelchair-bound participants. Included in the hour-long exercise session is a relaxation component, which focuses on deep breathing.

One in five people in the u.s. has arthritis, according to statistics from the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation (AF). The most recent u.s. surgeon General's report on physical activity and health states that exercise benefits individuals with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The new research is the first randomized controlled trial to show that exercise is effective against arthritis symptoms, though previous pilot studies already showed that the organization's exercise program is beneficial.

OVERALL PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS. The new study comprised 346 patients, average age 70, with self-reported arthritis. The participants were divided into an intervention group that took part in the AF's exercise program for eight weeks and a control group that continued the program beyond the initial eight weeks.

The study participants who completed the Arthritis Foundation exercise Program showed improvements in pain, fatigue, upper and lower body strength, and arthritis symptoms at eight weeks. What's more, the improvements in pain and fatigue also were maintained at six months. But the amount of time they were able to exercise (exercise endurance) did not increase, the study showed. While participants in the eight-week program maintained the improvement in their symptoms for six months after completing the program, their function and confidence that they could adequately complete the exercises (self-efficacy) worsened after the program ceased. exactly why there was a decline in self-efficacy for exercise at six months is unknown, but it may be that although participants understood the benefits of exercise, they felt less confident without the class structure, frequency, and ...