National Health Council — Voluntary Health Agency Guide

Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases — the nation's number one cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation achieves its mission through its commitment to funding research, advancing public policy and supporting public health initiatives. With more than 500,000 volunteers and 150 service points nationwide, the Arthritis Foundation offers a large number of programs and services to help people take greater control of their arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation also publishes a variety of in-depth brochures and books about living and coping with arthritis, as well as a bi-monthly magazine, Arthritis Today.

Since its inception in 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has invested more than $244 million on research for the support of more than 2,000 scientists, physicians and health professionals involved in cutting-edge arthritis research. Additionally, the Arthritis Foundation ensures public policy and advocacy efforts are being introduced and passed to support its mission of improving lives of people with arthritis. With arthritis being the number one cause of disability in America, the Arthritis Foundation is the one organization with a mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis and its related diseases.

About the condition(s):

Arthritis is a term used to describe more than 100 different conditions that affect joints, as well as other parts of the body. Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation's leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation focuses its efforts on three main types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile arthritis (JA). OA is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and is the most common form of arthritis affecting nearly 21 million Americans, mostly over the age of 45. Nearly 2.1 million people in the United States have RA, a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. Nearly 300,000 children under the age of 17 are affected by JA. Juvenile arthritis is a general term for arthritis that occurs in children, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or other types of arthritis.