Tag Archives: arthritis foundation

Meet YOUR Patient Leadership Council

The things that matter most to you in your journey with arthritis help pave the way to the education, resources and research that are needed to help you live your best life.

The Arthritis Foundation’s Patient Leadership Council (PLC) serves as the voice of people living with various types of arthritis, representing what matters most to people like you. Each of the 12 members of the PLC has a form of arthritis – OA, RA, JIA, lupus, scleroderma. They hail from all over the United States, from New York to Washington, California to Indiana, Kansas to Texas. Each of them has their own compelling story to tell. Continue reading Meet YOUR Patient Leadership Council

Thanks for the Laughs and the Salute to Telethons, Mrs. Maisel!

Remember when telethons were a big thing? Americans would dial in and be greeted by celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore or Betty White. Before Walk to Cure Arthritis and Jingle Bell Run, telethons were a major lifeline (pun intended) for our organization, so we could impact the course of the disease and support the millions of Americans living with it. Continue reading Thanks for the Laughs and the Salute to Telethons, Mrs. Maisel!

get a grip on arthritis 2018

Getting a Head Start on Arthritis Awareness Month: PopSockets Is Helping Move the Needle

Order your phone grip by March 31, 2018 to support the Arthritis Foundation!

Though National Arthritis Month isn’t until May, the Arthritis Foundation is already putting an even brighter spotlight on America’s #1 cause of disability.

Continue reading Getting a Head Start on Arthritis Awareness Month: PopSockets Is Helping Move the Needle

Arthritis Customizable Info

Get Customized Arthritis Tips, Tricks and News Straight to Your Inbox!

Here at the Arthritis Foundation, we’re always looking for better ways to help you live your best. Today, we’re launching a new initiative that we think you will want to be part of.

Whether you have arthritis yourself or know someone who does, we want to give you an opportunity to receive exclusive information related specifically to your disease type(s) and other helpful topics you choose. You pick the topics, and we’ll send you the latest research, news, tips & exclusive resources – right to your inbox.
Continue reading Get Customized Arthritis Tips, Tricks and News Straight to Your Inbox!

World Arthritis Day 2015

October 12 is World Arthritis Day

Since 1996, October 12 is recognized as World Arthritis Day, a global initiative bringing people together to raise awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).  Established by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) and managed by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), the aim of World Arthritis Day is not only to raise awareness, but also to influence public policy and inform those living with RMDs as well as their caregivers of the support network available to them.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions accounting for more than $156 billion in lost wages and medical expenses annually with nearly 1 million hospitalizations each year. Arthritis impacts more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. and 120 million people in the European Union, making it the leading cause of disability in the western world.

Arthritis has a Global Impact

  • According to EUMUSC.net, in a 2007 EU survey it was found that 22% of the population currently had, or had experienced, long-term muscle, bone and joint problems such as rheumatism and arthritis.
  • The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis varies between 0.3% and 1% and is more common in women as well as in developed countries.
  • Within 10 years of onset of rheumatoid arthritis, at least 50% of patients in developed countries are unable to hold down a full-time job.
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder and accounts for more disability among the elderly than any other disease.
  • Many factors increase the risk of developing rheumatic disease, including increasing age, smoking, excessive weight, predisposed genetic factors, occupations with high risk of injury and overuse of joints.

The Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Arthritis Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. Our goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life – and making each day another stride towards a cure.

This year’s World Arthritis Day theme – “It’s in your hands, take action” – helps increase awareness as we take over the social media world High 5ing for World Arthritis Day.  Take a stand! Join us in spreading the word with the hashtag #WADhigh5.

Together, we conquer arthritis!

Related Resources:


Champion of Yes – It’s a Brand New Day at the Arthritis Foundation!

Ann Palmer, Arthritis Foundation President & CEOAs you’re reading this blog, or if you’ve visited the Arthritis Foundation website today, you may have noticed we look a bit different. Today we’re entering a new chapter in our organization’s evolution – as we publicly unveil the Foundation’s Champion of Yes brand.

While we are celebrating the unprecedented opportunities this transformation brings, we also recognize that there is much work to be done.

With the support and leadership of our staff, volunteers and community, our new brand is going to help the Arthritis Foundation – and the mission we’re committed to – stand out more than ever before. But it is our hard work and unwavering commitment that will continue to make an impact on the lives of the more than 50 million Americans who have arthritis.

Our new look and feel will show the world that we’re united, consistent and in touch with the changing times. However, it’s our tools and resources; advocacy efforts and cutting-edge scientific discovery that will help us change lives and find a cure.  Our new way of talking about who we are and what we stand for will underscore our attributes: that we’re bold, brave, expert, ever present and all-in, and our dedication to truly living those attributes will help us create moments of Yes in people’s lives and increase access to care for our community.

Over the past year, we’ve conducted a lot of research, heard many voices and ideas, evaluated our challenges and considered possible solutions.  I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped shape this tremendous transformation at the Arthritis Foundation – the many staff and volunteers who are dedicated to our organization’s mission. Our passion and pledge to a cause that is growing each day in importance is even stronger today. We are committed to saying Yes in the face of No, and to helping those who live with arthritis do the same. We won’t reach our destination overnight, and there’s still a lot more work to do, but I’m confident our efforts will help us conquer arthritis – and now I encourage every member of our community to make the most of this milestone and help move us forward.

For starters, we’d love for you to watch our short video below to learn more about what it means to be a Champion of Yes, and then to tell us how you, yourself, are a Champion of Yes! Tell us about the things you’ve had to say No to because of arthritis, and what you’ve done to overcome those challenges and turn them into moments of Yes. Tell us about your tips and tricks for living better with arthritis. Tell us about your accomplishments, what you’re proud of, and how YOU say Yes.

Thank you for supporting the Arthritis Foundation and our community – and for being a true Champion of Yes!

P.S. – Please be sure to explore the rebranded arthritis.org, where our powerful new look and feel really comes to life!

 – Ann Palmer, Arthritis Foundation President & CEO


Welcome to our new Blog!

Welcome to the Arthritis Foundation’s new blog! Our blog will give us a unique opportunity to share news, updates and healthy living content, while also offering a place for us to interact with our arthritis community. If you’re wondering what you can expect from the content you find on our blog, and how the information here differs from the information you may find on our website, read on.

Our blog will allow us to leverage social technologies to engage in two-way communication with our community and to take your feedback into consideration as we create new content, tools and resources. In addition, we’ll use the blog to share multimedia, such as videos, photo albums and more. Here you’ll also find patient stories, resources for caregivers, local event updates and advocacy news, as well as details on opportunities to engage with the Arthritis Foundation and other members of the arthritis community.

As we continue to build our blog, we’ll also create disease-specific content so you can learn more about the latest news, research and tips about your specific type of arthritis.

We look forward to growing with you as we embark on this new journey. Thanks for stopping by!