Effectiveness of two Arthritis Foundation programs: Walk With Ease, and YOU Can Break the Pain Cycle

Michelle Bruno, Susan Cummins, Lisha Gaudiano, Johanna Stoos, Peter Blanpied

Physical Therapy Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of two Arthritis Foundation programs: Walk With Ease (WWE) and YOU Can Break The Pain Cycle (PC).

Design: Quasi-experimental, repeated measures design. Retested at six weeks and four months.

Setting: Community based intervention.

Participants: Volunteer sample of 163 adults with arthritis recruited through mailings, newspapers, and flyers.

Interventions: Subjects participated in a 90 minute seminar (PC, Group A), a six-week walking program (WWE, Group B), or both programs (Group C).

Main outcome measures: Survey assessment of arthritis knowledge, general health, self-management activities, confidence, physical abilities, depression, health distress, and how arthritis affects their life. A Squat Test, a Six Minute Walk test, and a Timed Functional Walk Test were also administered.

Results: Subjects in Group B were more confident, less depressed, had less health distress, and less pain than subjects in Group A. Scores of Group C were between Group A and B scores. Differences in groups over time indicated that the WWE resulted in increased confidence, physical abilities, time spent in self-management activities and decreased pain and fatigue. All groups increased in walking endurance at six weeks, and increased in health distress at four months.

Conclusion: Subjects in different programs differed on impact of arthritis. These programs provide effective arthritis management opportunities.

Keywords: arthritis, self care, patient education, exercise