Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP), formerly known as People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE), is a program to help people self-manage their arthritis symptoms through exercise. Sessions include health education, relaxation techniques, and a variety of endurance-building and range-of-motion activities. Classes are available for different fitness levels, and exercises are modified to individual participant needs. Class instructors participate in Arthritis Foundation instructor-training. The program exercises are focused on improving functional ability and increasing confidence in ability to exercise.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is to increase joint flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength among individuals with arthritis.

Results / Accomplishments

A randomized controlled trial of 346 individuals in North Carolina showed that after 8 weeks of programming, the intervention group had improvements in pain, fatigue, and perceived self-efficacy for managing arthritis. Participants who attended more than 9 classes had improvements in symptom outcomes (pain, fatigue, stiffness), function outcomes (10-pound lifts, chair stands), and psychological outcome (self-efficacy for arthritis management). Six months following the intervention participants in the exercise program maintained significant improvements in symptoms.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Arthritis Foundation
Primary Contact
Arthritis Foundation National Office
1355 Peachtree St NE
6th Floor
Atlanta,GA 30309
800-283-7800 
http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/exe...
Topics
Health / Other Conditions
Health / Older Adults
Organization(s)
Arthritis Foundation
Source
Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research) Journal
Date of publication
2008
Date of implementation
1999
Location
USA
For more details
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-...
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/interventions/progra...
Target Audience
Older Adults

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  4. Programa de Manejo Personal de la Artritis
  5. Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
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Related Content for: Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.