Lifestyle Management Programs
The CDC Arthritis Program promotes recognized, evidence-based programs that are proven to improve the quality of life of adults with arthritis and helps make them available in communities across the country. Recognized programs are those that have shown improvements in arthritis symptoms, such as pain or limitations in function, and that have some level of support for program oversight and organized, wide-scale delivery. Promising programs are programs with promising evaluation data and which are building the infrastructure to support program delivery across the country. Over time, these programs may be elevated to a recognized status.
These descriptions of recognized and promising lifestyle management programs can help you decide which program is the best fit for you or your target population.
CDC's Arthritis Program uses specific criteria to screen intervention programs for arthritis-appropriateness, adequate evidence base, and infrastructure necessary for widespread dissemination as a public health intervention.
Compendium of Arthritis-Appropriate Interventions
This compendium of CDC-recognized programs (last updated in 2012) is a concise, standardized review of evidence-based programs. Program planners and facilitators may use this compendium to choose programs. Compendium of Arthritis Appropriate Physical Activity and Self-Management Education Interventions pdf icon[PDF – 1.06MB]
Marketing Tools to Promote Lifestyle Management Programs
CDC and our partners created tools that can be used to promote physical activity and self-management education intervention programs to potential program participants or referrers. Tools currently available include
| Program Name | Recognized/Newly Recognized | In-Person/Remote | Program Benefits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Activity | Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program | Recognized | In Person | Joint range of motion, stretching, breathing, light aerobic activities. |
| Active Living Everyday | Recognized | In Person | Increasing physical activity for older adults with sedentary lifestyles in group settings. | |
| Enhance® Fitness | Recognized | In Person/Remote (undergoing evaluation) | Stretching, flexibility, balance, low impact aerobics and strength training exercises. | |
| Fit & Strong! | Recognized | In Person/Remote (undergoing evaluation) | People with lower-extremity joint pain and stiffness, and osteoarthritis. | |
| Fit & Strong! Plus | Recognized | In Person/Remote (undergoing evaluation) | Physical activity plus weight loss version of Fit & Strong! | |
| Walk with Ease – Group | Recognized | In Person | Community-based walking with discussion about physical activity and arthritis. | |
| Walk With Ease – Self-Directed | Recognized | Remote | Self-directed walking with lessons about physical activity and arthritis. | |
| Camine Con Gusto | Recognized | In Person | Spanish version of Walk with Ease (community-based walking with discussion about physical activity and arthritis). | |
| Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program | Recognized | In Person | Low-impact program to reduce pain and stiffness and improve balance, endurance, and coordination. | |
| Tai Chi for Arthritis | Recognized | In Person | Improve function, relieve pain, ease of use for older adults. | |
| Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance | Recognized | In Person | People who are at risk for falling and have balance disorders. | |
| The Otago Exercise Program | Newly Recognized | In-person/remote | Strengthening, balance retraining, and walking to reduce falls and injuries among older adults, particularly those 80 years old and older. | |
| Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) | Newly Recognized | In-person/remote | Improve strength, balance, and fitness; program is for adults 65 years-old and older. | |
| Self-Management Education | Chronic Disease Self-Management Program | Recognized | In-person/Remote (undergoing evaluation) | Arthritis, diabetes, lung, and heart disease management covering physical activity, appropriate use of medications, effective communication. |
| Tomando Control de su Salud | Recognized | In Person | Spanish version of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. | |
| Better Choices, Better Health ® | Recognized | Remote | Chronic disease management, decision making, problem-solving, and action-planning. | |
| Chronic Pain Self-Management Program | Recognized | In Person/Remote (undergoing evaluation) | People with primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic pain. | |
| Enhance®Wellness | Recognized | In Person | Improve health and functional status of older adults with chronic conditions and disability. | |
| Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) | Recognized | In Person | Adults and older adults with depression; reduces symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation, improve quality of life. | |
| Workplace Chronic Disease Self-Management Program | Recognized | In Person | Workplace adaptation of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, improving self-management skills, physical and mental health indicators, and work performance of employees with at least one chronic condition. | |
| Toolkit for Active Living with Chronic Pain | Newly Recognized | Remote | Mailed, self-directed toolkit for managing chronic pain; See the “Chronic Pain Self-Management Program” for program benefits | |
| Toolkit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions | Newly Recognized | Remote | Mailed, self-directed toolkit for managing chronic conditions. See the “Chronic Disease Self-Management Program” for program benefits |
To learn more about each of these programs, including how individuals can participate, and how organizations can apply to have their program evaluated for recognition as an arthritis-appropriate evidence-based intervention, please visit The OA Action Alliance website.