Missouri developed seven Regional Arthritis Centers (known as RACs) to focus efforts toward the CDC recommendations by offering physical activity and self-management programs for persons and families affected by arthritis and other chronic conditions. Only 13 percent of Missourians with arthritis have ever taken a class to manage their arthritis. We are funded by the CDC and MAOP. Our deliverables include:
Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program covers a wide variety of range-of-motion and endurance-building activities, relaxation techniques, and health education topics. It helps increase joint flexibility and all of the exercises can be modified to meet participants needs.Classes typically meet for 45 minutes two to three times per week.
Walk With Ease can teach you how to safely make physical activity part of your everyday life. It is shown to reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis; increase balance, strength and walking pace; build confidence in your ability to be physically active, and improve overall health. The Walk with Ease program is available to complete on your own with the purchase of the guide book, or in a group in your local community.
EnhanceFitness focuses on stretching, flexibility, balance, low-impact aerobics, and strength training exercises. Classes meet for one hour three times per week (limited offerings in select counties).
Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program is a six-week course that consists of weekly two-hour sessions. People with arthritis and fibromyalgia learn necessary skills needed to build a personalized self-management program and gain the confidence to carry it out.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a program that specifically addresses common chronic condition issues including those related to arthritis, diabetes, and lung and heart disease (and more), while teaching useful skills for self-managing those issues. Workshops meet two and a half hours per week for six weeks.
The Arthritis Toolkit includes the basic building blocks needed to create a personal approach to managing arthritis and related conditions, including osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia, at home. It was designed for homebound individuals and/or persons unable to attend a community session. The toolkit includes The Arthritis Helpbook, exercise & relaxation CDs, and information packets that encourage goal-setting & action-planning. The toolkits can be checked out for 6 weeks.
I know the programs work from personal experience. I have rheumatoid arthritis and implement the concepts from the self-help programs as well as the exercise program. I believe in the programs, teach, and train for most of the programs. These programs allow those dealing with chronic conditions to become good self-managers and, in turn, improve their quality of life.
The Kansas City Regional Arthritis Center (KC RAC) offers programs/services wherever needed in the 10 counties we serve. We can provide meeting space (if needed), leaders or co-leaders, train personnel (if desired), and promote offerings on our website at www.moarthritis.org. Please check out our newly designed website for more information.
Please feel free to contact me, Orvie Prewitt, if you have questions, need further information, want to find a class, want to find a training, and/or would like to implement any of our programs.
