LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Arthritis: Arthritis Foundation
built 604 days ago
"Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. affecting nearly 70 million Americans," said Dr. John H. Klippel, CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "The goal of the Ease of Use Commendation program is to identify products that are effective and easy-to-use for people with arthritis to help them maintain an active lifestyle. It is the commitment of the Arthritis Foundation to encourage manufacturers to design user-friendly products and packaging. Products are then rigorously reviewed and tested by an independent lab to ensure that they are easy to use by people with functional limitations due to the effects of arthritis."
Source:
Established in 1948, the Arthritis Foundation is the only national voluntary organization that works on behalf of people with all forms of arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation funds research to find cures and improve care. The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. For more information, please visit www.arthritis.org.
Source:
According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA affects 2.1 million Americans, mostly women. RA is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is one of the most common forms of arthritis. RA is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining in the joint, or synovium, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. The synovium can invade locally and causes damage to bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage. The involved joint can lose its shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement.
Source:
The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. Arthritis Foundation efforts focus on increasing awareness, education, advocacy and research. The Arthritis Foundation currently provides more than $28 million in grants to more than 300 researchers to help find prevention measures, better treatment and ultimately a cure. The Arthritis Foundation's sponsorship of research for more than 50 years has resulted in major treatment advances for most forms of arthritis.
Source:
According to the Arthritis Foundation, the news isn't good for the nation's baby boomers or the economy. Already the most common cause of disability in the U.S., arthritis limits activity for 19 million of the 46 million U.S. adults with the disease. It ... exacts a hefty financial toll on the country -- $128 billion annually.
Source:
While physicians work hard to render the best possible care, the Arthritis Foundation believes many primary care physicians are facing competing pressures of reduced time to spend with patients and minimal training in arthritis as a specialty. This fact is compounded by the continual need to stay abreast of rapid improvements in the treatment of arthritis. A number of studies have evaluated practice patterns of primary care physicians. These studies show that many primary care physicians do not use a comprehensive approach to treatment or are unaware of the most recent and more aggressive strategies for limiting disease impact in people with arthritis, which can lead to increased deformity, disability and cost (both medical and personal). Rheumatologists -- arthritis specialists -- by virtue of their special training are more aware of the full spectrum of treatment options and take a more aggressive approach in treating people with arthritis.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Arthritis Foundation