Arthritis: The word conjures up images of seniors with twisted limbs and impaired mobility. The reality is that this is an equal-opportunity condition that strikes all ages, races and income brackets. Currently, there are 46 million doctor-diagnosed cases of arthritis in the country, but with an aging baby boomer population and increased emphasis on youth sports, one in three Americans will be impacted by the disease by the year 2030. A once grim prognosis, however, is no longer cause for despair. Early intervention, expanded treatment options and targeted exercise programs now provide quality of life for millions. The Arthritis Foundation has been at the forefront of these exciting developments.
This year marks the 60th birthday of the Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org). The organization boasts 46 chapters nationwide, four of them in California. The Northern California chapter (arthritis.org/chapters/northern-california/) serves a region that includes Monterey and the Bay Area, and stretches north along the coast to Eureka. The Northeastern California/Northern Nevada chapter (arthritis.org/chapters/northeasterncalifornia/) encompasses 32 California counties running through the Central Valley, as well as 12 counties on the other side of the border. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of arthritis sufferers through a combination of education, advocacy, research and treatment.
A series of “Life Improvement” programs in communities all over Northern California provides arthritis sufferers the gift of mobility. Participants can enjoy exercise, aquatic activities, walking, tai chi and self-help programs designed by experts specifically to aid their conditions. Through local organizations trained and certified by the Foundation, young and old alike learn how to decrease stiffness and increase function, reducing not just daily pain but also the number of doctor visits they must endure.
“Every week we get calls from people asking for programs in their area,” notes Debbie Woodsford, Executive Director of the Northeastern California/Northern Nevada chapter. “We then try to establish a contact to recruit local volunteers and market the programs in that area.” Aquatic programs are offered in some communities through California Family Fitness, whose trainers have undergone the certification process. In other areas, the programs are provided by local park and recreation districts. “New classes are being added every week,” says Woodsford.
Throughout the month of May, communities across Northern California will host Arthritis Walks to raise money and awareness for the Foundation. Walkers will traverse a one- or three-mile course in locations which include William Land Park in Sacramento and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. In September, approximately 300 riders from the four California chapters will take part in the California Coast Classic, a 525-mile bicycle ride that starts in San Francisco, ends at the Santa Monica pier, and is expected to raise more than one million dollars for arthritis research, treatment and education.
Arthritis is a chronic condition that can last a lifetime. It comes in more than 100 different forms but generally falls into one of two categories. Rheumatoid arthritis, which afflicts about two million Americans, is an inflammatory condition that progresses in severity over time and can, if left untreated, affect organs and other critical body systems. Osteoarthritis, the “wear-and- tear” form of the disease characterized by a breakdown in joint cartilage, is more common, affecting some 27 million Americans.
Often overlooked is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which can occur in children as young as one year old. A scarcity of pediatric rheumatologists, coupled with limited exposure of pediatric residents and interns to the disease, means that the condition can remain undiagnosed for a long time. “Rheumatoid arthritis can be devastating if left untreated,” says Dr. Ken Wiesner, a Sacramento rheumatologist who has seen an increased incidence of the condition among children due to both a greater emphasis on sports at younger ages and a higher rate of childhood obesity. “It is so critical that kids get diagnosed and treated early, because early treatment can prevent later injuries,” he says. “I want to cry when I see older adults who have had it all their lives but weren’t diagnosed until too late.”
The Arthritis Foundation has made medical education a top priority. “We’re working with experts to develop online curricula so that doctors know that it exists,” says PJ Handeland, president of the Northern California chapter of the Foundation. “We’ve also been working with the Centers for Disease Control and the state to get more people trained in this specialty.” With its proximity to both UC San Francisco and Stanford University, the Northern California chapter is uniquely positioned to support the latest research on the disease. Handeland shares the story of Jessica Saal, a chapter board member who tragically passed away as a result of complications of rheumatoid arthritis at the young age of 33, leaving a $2.2 million bequest earmarked for programs to address causes of and treatments for juvenile arthritis.
One beneficiary of the Saal family’s largesse is Camp Milagros, a summer program in Sonoma for children ages eight to thirteen who must live with the burden of being different. “These children feel all alone, living a life of pain,” says Handeland. “Here they can get away from home and be with their peers.” The camp, which is largely staffed by volunteers, was recognized by the Arthritis Foundation as one of the most innovative programs in the country.
Other generous donations include those that fund clinical fellowships in pediatric rheumatology at UC San Francisco and Stanford, underwrite education and support programs for parents throughout Northern California and help to advance the Arthritis Foundation’s agenda in state and national forums. The Foundation is putting its weight behind the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, which would provide greater resources for arthritis education and treatment. The goal is also to educate the public on the preventive value of staying active and maintaining a healthy weight.
“Things are definitely going in the right direction,” says Wiesner. “New discoveries in the treatment and causes of arthritis have been huge. We can now offer so much more to help people live fully functional lives. I’m extremely optimistic about the future.” The Arthritis Foundation, with the support of donors across Northern California, will play a leading role.
