Physical Activity. The Arthritis Pain Reliever.

Promoting Physical Activity to Manage Arthritis Pain

Physical Activity. The Arthritis Pain Reliever is a health communications campaign for general use by state health departments, their partners, and other community organizations. It is sponsored by CDC and the Arthritis Foundation.

The campaign was developed to promote physical activity as a method to manage arthritis pain. It is based on extensive audience research. Physical activity can have an important impact and beneficial effect on arthritis pain and associated disability. The campaign was revised in 2018.

Campaign Goals

Goals of the campaign are to

  • Raise awareness of physical activity as a way to manage arthritis pain and increase function.
  • Increase understanding of how to use physical activity (types and duration) to ease arthritis symptoms and prevent further disability.
  • Enhance the confidence of people with arthritis that they can be physically active.
  • Increase trial of physical activity behaviors.

Target Audience

The target audience for the campaign includes men and women with arthritis, doctor-diagnosed or self-diagnosed, who have the following characteristics:

  • African American or Caucasian.
  • Ages 40 to 65 years.*
  • Education level less than college graduate.
  • Income less than $75,000 a year.
  • Arthritis that has begun to or threatens to have negative impact on valued life roles.

* For information about the campaign and adults older than age 65, see the FAQ page.