A Scoping Review of Arthritis Foundation Exercise Programming

Abstract

Background: Arthritis impacts 1 in 4 adults in the US with prevalence increasing with age.  Exercise is one of the most effective, non-invasive treatments for arthritis-related symptoms. To facilitate participation in appropriate exercise for this population, the Arthritis Foundation created a series of exercise programs for individuals with arthritis including the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP), Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Exercise Program (AFAP), People with Arthritis Can Exercise and Walk With Ease AFEP.  Methods: The aim of this study was to systematically review peer-reviewed literature to qualitatively report the effects and impact of participation in AFEP and AFAP among individuals with arthritis. Two independent scoping reviews were conducted to describe the existing literature on the effects of participating in 1) AFEP and 2) AFAP.  Findings: AFEP and AFAP programming found improvements overall, but there were equivocal results for many of the hallmark symptoms of arthritis, including pain, stiffness, and impaired function.  Conclusions:  Many gaps in the research have been identified that should be addressed in future studies to determine the efficacy of AFEP and AFAP in arthritis management.