May is Arthritis Awareness Month; Be Active and Safe This Summer; New CDC Feature; New Preventing Chronic Disease study; Partner Resources for Arthritis Awareness Month

	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC 24/7: Saving Lives, Protecting People May 16, 2022

May Arthritis Newsletter Arthritis Awareness Month	cdc.gov/arthritis

For Arthritis Awareness Month 2022, CDC and its partners encourage you to learn more about recognized evidence-based interventions for arthritis and other chronic diseases.  New Arthritis Awareness Month Feature: Expanding Interventions for Arthritis This new feature provides comprehensive, need-to-know information on CDC-recognized arthritis-appropriate interventions. Learn more about in-person and virtual options, the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance’s (OAAA’s) criteria for these interventions, and how these programs help adults manage arthritis symptoms and chronic diseases.  Read Here New Finding: 1 in 3 US adults with arthritis report no physical activity  A new CDC study in Preventing Chronic Disease highlights the need for increased use of interventions to help improve the quality of life for adults living with arthritis. Read the full study here. Read Study Here Learn More About the Rise in Arthritis Today Arthritis prevalence is on the rise, with an estimated 58.5 million US adults reporting doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to a CDC analysis. Listen to find out more about the increase in US adults with arthritis, how adults with arthritis can manage their symptoms, and how providers, public health professionals, and community members can help. Listen to the Podcast Arthritis Success Story: Intervention In Action The Y-Alliance of New York State YMCAs has developed a digital resource to highlight their partnership with New York State Health Department. This virtual resource showcases the partnership’s plan to deliver Walk with Ease in YMCAs across the state. The resource will be continuously updated with results of the partnership through the end of the cooperative agreement.  Read More Here

Social Media Messages for Arthritis Awareness Month

Need social media messages? CDC has social media messages and graphics to help promote Arthritis Awareness Month!

Social Media Messages	Infographics

OA Action Alliance Resources for Arthritis Awareness Month The OAAA recognized the week of May 8, 2022, as #OAawarenessWeek. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a significant burden for affected adults, their families, communities, and employers. But there are tools that can help!  OACareTools contains infographics, videos, and handouts on topics related to preventing and managing OA. There are now 21 NEW tools and resources for primary healthcare providers and their patients. Learn more. OACareTools WATCH “OACareTools: Resources for Healthcare Providers, Employers, and Adults with OA,” featuring Katie Huffman, MA, OAAA Director of Education & Outreach. Ms. Huffman provides an overview of the OACareTools Companion Resource Development Initiative and the new OACareTools resources available on the OAAA website. Video transcript available. Watch Here OAAA Action Briefs for Policy Makers: As a policy maker, you can play a critical, influential role in crafting and enacting rules and regulations for delivering guidance documents that positively affect the lives of people with OA. Learn more. Policy Action Brief  Arthritis Foundation Resources for Arthritis Awareness Month WATCH Get "Ahead of Pain with Better Sleep:" Find out how to improve your sleep quality and combat fatigue. Sleep and pain-management experts share the facts about how sleep aids, supplements, arthritis medications, and more impact sleep.  Watch Here Upcoming Webinar “Arthritis Is Not Color Blind: Heavy Burden, Powerful Solutions for Communities of Color Overview,” with Lydia Best, MD, Medical Director, Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center, Tuesday, May 24; 6:00 – 7:15 pm ET.  Communities of color have a greater burden of arthritis affecting daily living, work, religious and social activity, family relationships, stress levels, sleep, and more. Register for the webinar. Register Here Don’t forget! Free MMWR/Medscape CE Units The CDC Arthritis Program has FREE MMWR/Medscape continuing education activities for the following MMWR Weekly articles:  "Walking and Other Common Physical Activities Among Adults with Arthritis — United States, 2019" and "Prevalence of Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2016–2018."

Common Physical Activities	Prevalence of Arthritis

Resources to Be Physically Active and Safe This Summer If you experienced a decline in physical activity since the onset of the pandemic, you are not alone! Public health safety protocols, new daily routines, and COVID-19 infection affected people’s ability to engage in physical activity. Check out these resources to help you get physically active and stay safe this summer:  Remotely Delivered Programs Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area. Along with getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a well-fitting mask over your mouth and nose in indoor public settings or crowds can protect you and others.

CDC Masking Guidance Order FREE at-home COVID-19 tests at COVIDtests.gov (phone numbers, including TTY, provided)!   Get Your Free COVID-19 Test

More Information

5 Ways to Manage Arthritis	CDC's Arthritis Site	About CDC's Arthritis Program	Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2nd Ed.)

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