By KATELYN HAND
A self-help class will be offered by the Arthritis Foundation to teach arthritis sufferers how to cope with and manage the pain associated with their disease.
'The class teaches not only what happens to the body, but how to control (arthritis),' said Walt Hanks, the instructor of the course which is being offered on campus.
According to a study by the Arthritis Foundation, those that have taken the course reported a 19 percent reduction in arthritis pain. This reduction can be evident for up to fours years after taking the class.
The philosophy of a self-help course is to get people in control of their arthritis and help them 'have a positive attitude and look at arthritis in a different way,' said Tia Middlestadt, program director for the Utah chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.
The topics of the class will include the physiology of arthritis, pain management, medications, relaxation techniques and coping strategies. By understanding the nature of the disease, those with arthritis can then become better equipped to manage and control it, Hanks said.
'What we are basically teaching is self-efficacy by empowering them with the assurance to take their life back from the disease,' Hanks said.
A sophomore from Springville majoring in community health education, Hanks developed rheumatic arthritis five years ago. He enrolled in the same self-help class he now teaches.
'Through that experience I realized how powerful knowledge is (in coping with the disease),' Hanks said.
According to Middlestadt, arthritis is a rheumatic disease which affects joints, muscles, skin and connective tissue. There are over 100 different types which affect an estimated 240,000 Utahns.
The most debilitating symptom associated with arthritis is the daily soreness and stiffness felt in the muscles and joints. 'Anyone who has arthritis is in pain 100 percent of the time. It becomes the norm but it is still painful,' said Cari Roundy, a junior from Houston, Texas, majoring in public policy.
While there is no known cure for arthritis, there are a variety of treatments including medicine, exercise, rest and relaxation, joint protection and surgery which can help to alleviate the pain.
The class begins today at 6 p.m. in 295 TLRB. To register call the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-444-4993. The fee is $20 for the six-week course