Encouraging Self-Management

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Self-management is an effective way to manage arthritis symptoms. “Self-management” strategies and activities are the day-to-day things a person chooses to do to manage his or her condition and stay healthy. CDC’s Arthritis Management and Wellbeing Program recognizes five self-management strategies for managing arthritis.

Here is more information on how you can encourage three of these strategies.

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Encouraging Physical Activity

CDC recognizes that health care providers counsel their arthritis patients to be physically active. Joint-friendly physical activity can improve arthritis pain, function, mood, and quality of life for people with arthritis. Being physically active can also delay the onset of arthritis-related disability and help people with arthritis manage other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Health care providers and patients can learn more about physical activity for arthritis, including how much activity a person needs, what types of activity are appropriate for people with arthritis, and what to do if someone has pain while exercising.

To learn more about when to refer a patient, read the American College of Rheumatology’s Referral Guidelines Cdc-pdf[PDF-37KB]External.

Find rheumatologists near your patient in ACR’s Find a Rheumatologist databaseExternal.

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Encouraging Participation in Self-Management Education Workshops

Self-management education (SME) workshops are community-based programs that teach people who have chronic conditions to gain confidence and use self-management strategies to manage their conditions and live life to the fullest. SME workshops also benefit patients with multiple chronic conditions.

  • Learn about CDC-recognized SME workshops that are proven to improve the quality of life for people with arthritis.
  • Learn more about self-management education workshops for chronic conditions in general and for specific chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer by visiting the CDC Learn More. Feel Better. campaign website.
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Encouraging Weight Management

Losing weight can ease arthritis pain. Adults with arthritis can decrease pain and improve function by maintaining a healthy weight. Weight loss is a non-drug way to manage arthritis and ease joint pain. Health care professionals should counsel their arthritis patients to lose weight if they are overweight or have obesity. Research suggests that patients who receive weight counseling from a health care professional are almost four times more likely to attempt weight loss than those not receiving counseling.