Steps to Better Health . . . in a City Near You!

With the start of a New Year, a lot of our leaders are getting geared up for spring Steps to Better Health programs.  The Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program and its seven Regional Arthritis Centers (RACs) host individual and group format courses regularly in areas of self-management (SM) and physical activity (PA).  Continue reading below for more information on the different opportunities available to you.  And, don't forget to check out your RAC calendar for a class near you.  The next Better Choices, Better Health^(R) class starts January 22 – sign-up today!

The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (PA) is a group format course offered by trained leaders in six-week increments, meeting two to three times per week.  Some sites choose to offer the program year round to participants.  Topics covered include: range-of-motion, flexibility, balance, strengthening and endurance-building activities; relaxation techniques; and health education topics.  An individual format of this class is available in Spanish.

The Living a Healthy Life (a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)) (SM) is a group format course that is offered by trained leaders in six-week increments, meeting once per week for 2.5 hours.  Topics covered include: techniques to deal with problems associated with chronic conditions; appropriate exercise; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition and setting goals.

The Tomando Control de su Salud (SM) program is a Spanish language group format course that is similar in content and process to the English language Living a Healthy Life (CDSMP), but addresses health topics in a culturally appropriate manner.  Topics covered include appropriate use of the health care system; how to evaluate new treatments; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; healthy eating; appropriate use of medications; and setting goals.

The Walk With Ease (PA) program is offered in group or independent formats.  In the group course, trained leaders work with participants three times a week over the course of six weeks.  For the independent course, individuals use a workbook three times a week over a six-week period.  Topics include pain management; walking routine development; stretching, warming up and cooling down.

The Arthritis Toolkit (SM) is an independent format course that is designed for use on your own time over the course of six weeks.  The Arthritis Toolkit draws from topics covered in the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help program (six-week group course).  Topics covered include: self-management of arthritis-specific conditions.  The Arthritis Toolkit can be checked out from your local RAC.

Better Choices, Better Health^(R) (SM) is a group format online course (online version of CDSMP) that is offered by trained leaders in six-week increments.  You can participate anytime and anywhere you have Internet access.  Online workshops let you choose days and times convenient to your schedule.  These workshops allow you to log on two to three times per week for about two hours each week.  It is designed for people living with one or more health problem such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety or any other long-term health problem.