CDC Reports Effects of Arthritis on Workforce

Work limitations due to arthritis ranges from a low of 3.4 percent of working age adults in Hawaii to a high of 15 percent in Kentucky, according to a first-ever Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report providing state–by–state data on adults experiencing work limitations caused by arthritis.

"There s no question that people with arthritis face a number of challenges," said Kristina Theis, M.P.H., the study's lead author in a press release. "Fortunately, simple workplace accommodations like flexible work schedules, ergonomic work stations and efforts to promote exercise and physical activity can help many workers who have arthritis."

According to the CDC, Arthritis -- a painful combination of 100 diseases and conditions -- is the most frequent cause of disability in the United States, limiting the activities of nearly 19 million adults.

Also See:
Rural Health Declines, CDC Reports (2001)
CDC Advises, Simmer Down and Stay Alive (2001)