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Behavioral Aspects of Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease Self-Management

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Disease Management and Health Outcomes

Abstract

Chronic diseases such as arthritis and related conditions have no ‘cure’, and thus require ongoing management. The long term nature of chronic disease gives the individual a crucial role, if not the most crucial role, in managing their condition. Day-to-day self-management is extremely important in achieving optimal health outcomes, and indeed, people with arthritis use a variety of strategies to relieve symptoms or manage disease consequences.

This review identifies and discusses 6 different domains of arthritis self-management behaviors: (i) medical management; (ii) joint protection strategies; (iii) physical activity and exercise; (iv) topical applications; (v) complementary and alternative strategies; and (vi) stress and mind/body practices. Conceptualizing arthritis self-management in this manner enables a discussion of a range of practices that may be used to manage arthritis conditions.

The literature on several established arthritis self-management programs that are designed to improve either self-care and/or exercise behaviors is also reviewed. Despite evidence of cost containment and improved health outcomes, these programs reach only a small percentage of people with arthritis who may benefit from them.

Clinical intervention for people with arthritis may be enhanced if self-management is approached from a broad perspective and, if established, self-management programs are integrated into clinical interventions.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease Grant 5-P60-AR30701-18, and an Arthritis Foundation Pre-Doctoral Award to the first author, and a post doctoral traineeship from the National Institute on Aging Grant #T-32 AG 00220. Most of this work was performed when Dr Keysor was at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boston University Gerontology Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Julie J. Keysor PhD

  2. Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Shannon S. Currey

  3. Departments of Medicine and Orthopedics, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Leigh F. Callahan

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  1. Julie J. Keysor PhD
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  2. Shannon S. Currey
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  3. Leigh F. Callahan
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Correspondence to Julie J. Keysor PhD.

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Keysor, J.J., Currey, S.S. & Callahan, L.F. Behavioral Aspects of Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease Self-Management. Dis-Manage-Health-Outcomes 9, 89–98 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-200109020-00003

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