Bone & Joint Health

TLC Programs: FirstLine Therapy®: Chronic Illness: Bone & Joint Health

Firm Up Bone & Joint Health

We’re an aging nation. As a result, the number of patients suffering from arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC), and the costs associated with treating these conditions, has risen dramatically.

The total costs attributable to AORC in the United States in 2003 was about $128 billion, equal to 1.2% of the 2003 U.S. gross domestic product.¹
$80.8 billion were direct costs (i.e., medical expenditures), and $47 billion were indirect costs (i.e., lost earnings).¹
National medical costs attributable to AORC grew from $233.5 to $321.8 billion between 1997 and 2003.²

Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability among American adults and also affects many children and young adults.³ Although it refers to over 100 different diseases that affect the areas in or around the joints, the two most common forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA), which affects cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of bones within the joint. It typically affects the fingers, knees, and hips and can cause joint pain and stiffness. OA is the most common form of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease affecting the synovium, or lining of the joint. Persons with RA often experience pain, stiffness, swelling, joint damage, and loss of function of the joints.

Other common forms of arthritis include gout, bursitis, tendonitis, and fibromyalgia.

Preventive Care for a Silent Menace

Unfortunately, because it happens slowly and silently, most people don’t even know their bones and joints are weak until they suffer a fracture. But there is some good news: there are practical—and natural—steps your patients can take to dramatically slow the rate of bone loss, and in some cases, even improve bone density. For instance, they can:

Do weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, biking, aerobics, or weight-lifting. Weight bearing exercise helps bones become stronger, builds muscle, and helps with balance, reducing the risk of falls and fractures.
Increase intake of dietary calcium. Green, leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds; whole, fresh foods; and select dairy products are good sources of calcium, a major component of bone.
Supplement a healthy diet with Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, trace minerals, and other organic components important for complete bone nourishment.
Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine. Both lower the amount of calcium in the body and may impede bone formation.
Quit smoking. Tobacco use is associated with weak bones.

The Number of People with AORC Concerns is Bound to Grow

As our population ages, the prevalence of self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase from 47.8 million in 2005 to nearly 67 million by 2030 (25% of the adult population).⁴ By 2030, 25 million (9.3% of the adult population) are projected to report arthritis-attributable activity limitations, with 48 states reporting doctor-diagnosed and arthritis-attributable activity limitations—including 14 states with increases of greater than 30%.⁵

What Your Patients Can Do Now

Taking preventive measures is the first step in managing the health of your patients’ joints and soft tissues. To keep joints and soft tissues healthy, recommend these therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) to your patients:

Get regular exercise. Exercise helps joints by strengthening muscle and improving flexibility and mobility. It also improves balance and reduces the risk of injury and inflammation.
Eat a healthier diet. Eating a healthier diet can help patients lose weight, and maintaining a healthy weight means less pressure on joints, especially hips, knees, back, and feet.
Take quality supplements. Concentrated levels of certain natural compounds, including glucosamine, chondroitin, and others, may promote soft tissue formation and protect against cartilage degradation.
Manage stress. Learning stress management techniques such as guided imagery, yoga, medication, and deep breathing exercises can help reduce physical and emotional tension and alleviate arthritis-related pain, anxiety, and depression.

FirstLine Therapy®—Better health now and for a lifetime

FirstLine Therapy (FLT) is a TLC program developed to help people address the underlying causes of disease and lead a healthier, more vibrant life. The basic principles of FLT—healthy eating, regular exercise, nutritional supplementation, and stress management—are the foundation upon which you can build a program tailored to your patients’ specific needs. And you can build your practice at the same time.

Help your patients start taking better care of their bones and joints today! Learn more about FirstLine Therapy and the FirstLine Therapy Certification Program click here.

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National and State Medical Expenditures and Lost Earnings Attributable to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions—United States, 2003. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5601a2.htm?s_cid=mm5601a2_e. Accessed December 18, 2007.
Yelin E, Murphy L, Cisternas MG, Foreman AJ, Pasta DJ, Helmick CG. Medical care expenditures and earnings losses among persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and comparisons with 1997. Arthritis Rheum.2007;56(5):1397-1407.
Preventing Chronic Diseases: Investing Wisely in Health: Preventing Arthritis Pain and Disability, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/Prevention/pdf/arthritis.pdf. Accessed February 22, 2008.
Arthritis Data and Statistics, NHIS Arthritis Surveillance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/national_data_nhis.htm. Accessed February 22, 2008.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 4, 2007, Vol. 56, No. 17, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5617.pdf. Accessed February 22, 2008.