Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center

View a schedule of upcoming classes, leader trainings, and meetings sponsored by the Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center

To view a list of classes by course and location click here.

To view a list of leader trainings by course and date click here.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Training

The Southwest Missouri RAC will be holding a training on June 5-8, 2012 and August 27-30, 2012 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.  You must attend all four days.  Trainings will be held in Springfield, Missouri.  For more information and to register please call (417) 888-6789.

Arthritis Foundation Exercise Leader Training

The Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center will hold a FREE Arthritis Foundation Exercise Leader Training on Friday, February 24 and Friday, September 14, 2012 from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, MO.  Registration is required by calling (417)888-6789.

Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center Success Stories!

Check out some recent stories of success and achievement from participants and partners in courses offered by the Southwest Missouri RAC.

To check out the stories, click here!

KY3 News Piece on the Regional Arthritis Center

KY3 news recently aired a story on the SWRAC and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Classes.  Please click on the link and take a look. 

http://www.ky3.com/news/health/ky3-exercise-is-good-medicine-for-102710,0,4253058.story

 

 

Upcoming Chronic Disease and Arthritis Self-Help Classes

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Class and Arthritis Self-Management Classes are six-week classes that meet one time per week for two hours.  Topics include pain management, stress management, exercise, coping with depression, working with your doctor, energy conservation and many other topics.  Spouses or other family members are encouraged to attend. 

Southwest Missouri has several upcoming Chronic Disease Self-Management Classes and Arthritis Self-Management classes scheduled for the rest of 2010 and into 2011.  All classes are FREE.  Locations now include Dade County, McDonald County, Douglas County, Howell County, Bolivar, Marshfield, West Plains Osceola, Nevada, Joplin, Ava, Noel, Gainsville, Cabool, Mtn. Grove, Springfield and Barton County.  Click on classes for a complete list with dates and times.  Keep checking back.  A class could be in your area soon! 

Arthritis Toolkit

The Arthritis Toolkit

People with arthritis and fibromylgia can live a healthy life by actively managing the physical and emotional problems that come with their disease.  The Arthritis Toolkit does not provide cures or miracles. Living a healthy life with a chronic disease is possible with good self-management!

The toolkit includes the basic building blocks for each inidividual to use in constructing a personal approach to the management of the disease through exercise, pain management, and relaxation.  It encourages goal-setting, action-planning, proactive thinking, and acting ahead.

Each toolkit includes the following self-management tools:

• The Arthritis Helpbook
• Information sheets briefly describing common problems and helpful solutions
• Self-test that helps individuals identify the elements and set priorities for a personal self-management plan
• Action Plan description with instruction and examples for developing a unique plan
• Exercise Action Plan with hints and instruction on use of the other exercise and activity materials
• Relaxation and Exercise CDs
• All in one self-contained kit to which the individual can add their own materials

The key to good self-management is learning skills and then practicing them.  It will take practice.  These are the elements that can help you design an individual program to restore some degree of control over the effects of the disease on the body and activities and live a healthier, happier, more comfortable life!

The Arthritis Toolkit is available through the Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center by calling 1-800-835-5197 or 417-820-3665. 

The Southwest Missouri Regional Arthritis Center (SWRAC) is one of seven regional centers established in Missouri by the Department of Health.

The center is designed to offer arthritis education programs to community members, allied health professionals, and physicians. It is located at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Mo.

The SWRAC serves a 23-county area including: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Polk, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Webster, and Wright.

The mission of the Missouri Arthritis Project and the Regional Arthritis Centers is to reduce the burden of rheumatic disease by promoting optimal health and quality of life for all Missourians affected by arthritis, rheumatic diseases and related musculoskeletal conditions through prevention, early intervention, education, service and collaboration.

Services available at the Arthritis Center:

• Arthritis Education – Individual instruction from the arthritis clinician.

• Exercise - Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Tai Chi for Arthritis and the arthritis aquatic program are designed specifically for people with arthritis. A NEW exercise program called Walk With Ease is also available.  

• Support Groups - Meetings for individuals with arthritis and their family members to share fellowship and to hear a speaker addressing an arthritis-related topic.

• Juvenile Arthritis - A Pediatric Rheumatologist is available every quarter to see children with JA.

• Quarterly Newsletter - Free quarterly newsletter includes articles by rheumatology experts and information on support groups, arthritis education, exercise programs and general resource information.

• Public Forums - Free arthritis education presentations in communities throughout Southwest Missouri. Speakers bureau available.

• Professional Education - Annual Allied Health Seminar for nurses, PT's, and OT's.  CEU's are available.

• Self-help Courses - Self-Help courses for Arthritis and Chronic Disease.

• Library - SWRAC has many materials available to help you learn more about arthritis and related conditions. Brochures, books and DVD's are available.