About the Physical Activity Working Group:
As a coalition, the OA Action Alliance undertakes its work through four working groups comprised of volunteers who are members of concerned organizations in the public health community. These working groups are based on the four primary recommendations outlined in A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis. The areas addressed are injury prevention, physical activity, self-management education and weight management.
Mission Statement
The Physical Activity Working Group is unified under the second of four recommended public health interventions outlined in the National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis which states that, "low impact, moderate intensity aerobic physical activity and muscle strengthening exercise should be promoted widely as a public health intervention for adults with OA of the hip and knee." Read more here.
Group Leadership
Chair, OA Action Alliance Physical Activity Working Group
Chair, Education Network, National Recreation and Park Association
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Office of Recreation and Park Resources
Laura has focused much of her research and outreach programming on examining the relationship between leisure behavior and the health of older adults with chronic conditions; the role of local parks and recreation agencies in the promotion and maintenance of health; and the relationship between nature-based leisure experiences and health. To this end, Laura’s leadership role on the OA Action Alliance’s Physical Activity working group is a perfect match! Learn more about Laura and the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by clicking here.
Contact
For more information about the Physical Activity work group, please contact Mary Waterman at mwaterman@arthritis.org.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects approximately 27 million Americans. In 2004, OA-related hospital costs alone were estimated at $22.6 billion.
The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA) is an independent organization and references made by the OAAA or on this website to any specific commercial or non-commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by any of the individual OAAA member organizations.