May 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 72

NRPA UPDATE
Improving the Lives of People with Arthritis
Through Parks and Recreation
By Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH

E

ach year, May is recognized as Arthritis Awareness Month, a time
to increase awareness about the prevalence and effects of arthritis
and to motivate Americans to get more active. Arthritis, which has
an annual healthcare cost of more than $300 billion, is one of the most
common chronic diseases and a leading cause of disability and work limitations for more than 54 million people across the United States. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are among the most common of the
100 forms of this disease.
NRPA and local park and recreation agencies across the country
have been bringing awareness to
this issue for the past seven years,
by expanding the dissemination
and delivery of arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs), including Walk
With Ease, Active Living Every
Day and Fit & Strong! Through
these programs, adults with ar-

thritis can not only access evidence-based programs that help
them effectively manage their
arthritis condition and comorbidities, such as heart disease and
diabetes, but can also establish
and engage in meaningful social
connections and improve their
overall health and quality of life.
One AAEBI participant in
Palm Beach County, Florida,

shares: " I love the Fit & Strong!
class very, very much. I feel good.
I'm more flexible in my entire
body, in my joints and my muscles. When I started, I had very
bad sciatic pain. Now, I feel so
much stronger. It's such a magnificent therapy for my muscles and
my joints. And, my brain - when
I come here, I feel more relaxed,
less stressed. We walk, we talk -
I talk with my friends. "
Because of these efforts, some
300 park and rec agencies across 48
states and American Samoa have
offered more than 700 AAEBI
courses to close to 20,000 participants. In addition, more than 2 million people across the country have
been exposed to marketing materials promoting AAEBIs in park and
rec settings. Communities in states
with a high prevalence of arthritis,
such as Alabama, Michigan and
Missouri, have also been able to
offer arthritis programs to help the
most underserved members in their
communities manage their arthritis
and live fuller, healthier lives.
For more information about
NRPA's efforts, check out the
Healthy Aging in Parks Initiative
(www.nrpa.org/healthy-aging-inparks) and read agency success
stories at Healthy Aging in Parks
Success Story Database (www.
nrpa.org/success-stories/healthyaging-in-parks).
Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH, is an
NRPA Health and Wellness Senior Program
Manager (lspencer@nrpa.org).

70

Parks & Recreation

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May 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2019 - Parks & Recreation

May 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 1
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May 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 3
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