Lifestyle Management Programs

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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, promising programs may be elevated to a recognized status.

Physical Activity Programs

Participants stretching in an arthritis physical activity program

Community-based programs teach participants to safely increase their physical activity to manage arthritis or other chronic conditions.

Self-Management Education Workshops

Arthritis Subject Matter Experts participating in a workshop, with leader at an easle

Interactive workshops in the community teach participants skills for managing arthritis or other chronic conditions.

Remote Program Delivery

Delivery of Arthritis Self-Management Program remotely to woman at a computer

Remote delivery of in-person programs is being offered through a variety a ways to improve self-management behaviors.

Program Descriptions

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.

Screening Criteria

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.

Program Watch List

The programs on the watch list are currently undergoing evaluation to determine their effects on the health of people with arthritis. These programs are periodically screened for their potential as recognized or promising programs.

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]pdf icon

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

Page last reviewed: April 16, 2021

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division of Population Health