Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and retired NFL greats team up to tackle osteoarthritis

NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. Osteoarthritis, or OA, affects more than 21 million Americans -- and the number of those affected dramatically rises each year.

Perhaps no group has closer experiences with arthritis than retired NFL athletes. Gridiron greats John Elway, Jim McMahon, Harold Carmichael and Rocky Bleier have teamed up with the Arthritis Foundation and their sponsor Smith & Nephew for "Game Plan for OA," an education and awareness campaign designed to encourage a close patient/doctor relationship and to promote proper exercise with the goal of reducing the pain, stiffness and limitations of osteoarthritis.

Elway, who played sixteen seasons with the Denver Broncos, deals with arthritis daily.

"Believe me, if anyone knows about arthritis, it's me," said Elway. "Being active is what really makes me feel better. And the less I do, the worse I feel -- so I try to do something every day. I find the less active I am, the stiffer and achier I get. I can tell the difference if I skip even one day."

In addition to staying active, it is equally important to manage OA with your physician.

"It's important to work with your doctor to set personal goals and strategies to take control of OA. Your doctor needs to clearly understand how arthritis impacts your life for you to get the best care," said John H. Klippel, M.D., Arthritis Foundation president and CEO.

Television and radio messages featuring Elway and Bleier aim to encourage everyone touched by OA to order a free Game Plan for OA Playbook that gives winning strategies for staying active, as well as tips for working with their doctor. The free Playbook is available at http://www.arthritis.org or by calling the Arthritis Foundation at 800-568-4045.