Join the Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter for a free educational evening focusing on “Women & RA” on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012. This program will be held at the Bone and Joint Center, 1367 Washington Avenue, Albany with check-in beginning at 5:30 and the program to begin at 6 p.m. The speakers for the evening include Dr. Aixa Toledo, rheumatologist with the Center for Rheumatology and Jessica Farrell, Pharm D with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. Toledo will present on how RA is diagnosed, common signs and symptoms and what treatments are available while Jessica Farrell, Pharm D will present on medications commonly used in patients with RA as well as what routine screenings need to be done because of medication.

Please register for this program by Monday, June 4th by calling the Arthritis Foundation chapter office at 518-456-1203. Light refreshments will be available.

Join us for the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program! The Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program, taught by trained personnel, consists of 12 movements (six beginner and six advanced), a warm up and a cool down utilizing the Sun style of Tai Chi exercises. This style may be particularly effective for people with Arthritis because it includes agile steps and exercises that may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation.

The benefits of Tai Chi:

• Reduced Pain and Stiffness
• Improved Concentration and Memory
• Greater Balance
• Increased Flexibility
• Enhanced Muscle Strength
• Ability to Cope with Stress and Depression

For more information, please contact the Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter at 518-456-1203.

List of classes 2012

The Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter and the Nuns at New Skete, located in Cambridge, NY have joined together to fight arthritis. Starting Sunday, January 15th, you can purchase 2 flavors of cheesecake with proceeds benefitting the Arthritis Foundation NENY Chapter.

We are extremely excited about this partnership and the support from the community and especially from New Skete has been overwhelming. This campaign will run until the end of May so we hope that you will have an occasion for ordering one of these cheesecakes. Cheesecakes are the best to have for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, St. Patrick’s Day, or just for yourself to enjoy! Click one of the pics below to order your cheesecake. Flavors available that will benefit the Arthritis Foundation are:

Deluxe Cheesecake:

The classic, creamy New York-style cheesecake. This cheesecake started the New Skete Cheesecake phenomenon over 35 years ago. A delicately vanilla flavored favorite in a lemony cookie crumb crust. Party size (serves 16).
$8.00 from each purchase of this cake benefits the Arthritis Foundation. (Ship weight: 7 lbs.)

You can also purchase the cheesecake made exclusively for the Arthritis Foundation NENY Chapter.  

Raspberry Chocolate    

Rich chocolate is blended with raspberry puree resulting in a smooth, mousse-like texture. Crowned with additional raspberry sauce, this flavor combination creates a slice of sweet revenge against arthritis. Family size, unsliced, (serves 8-10).
$5.00 from each purchase of this cake benefits the Arthritis Foundation. (Ship. weight: 4 lbs.)

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, 98.3 WTRY will be hosting a “Holiday Song Request for Donations” from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. to benefit the Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter. My Music Morning Show Host, Jaime Roberts, will be playing all the holiday favorites for listeners while raising vital funds. With a simple donation, you can make a any request of your favorite holiday song that morning, as well as dedicate it to someone you know who suffers with arthritis.

With over 300,000 people in the Capital District suffering from any one of the 100 different forms of arthritis, we could make this the best holiday family tradition yet. Funds raised will support the programs and services that so many have come to rely upon, as well as the needed research to find a cure.

But here is the exciting news! Support in the area of arthritis research has led to tremendous advance, leading to a much better understanding of the causes of the many different forms of arthritis. A team at Duke University has developed a way to regnerate tissue that looks and acts like natural cartilage to replace worn our or damages surfaces in joints, which could offer an alternative to joint replacement surgery.

Please help us by donating to the 98.3 WTRY “Holiday Song Request for Donations” to benefit the Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter on Thursday, December 8th from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Holiday Tips 11-17-2011

Join us on Thursday, November 17th for an educational program on “The Holidays and Your Arthritis.” The program will be held at Clifton Park Center in the empty outside storefront of “The Cotton Market” located near Marshalls and Justice clothing store. The presenters for this program will include, Sunil Abraham, M.D from Ellis Rheumatology Associates, Hector Jasen, MSPT from HectorPT Sports Rehab PLLC and Marianne Romano, MPA, RD, CDN, certified nutritionist and registered dietician with Hannford Supermarkets. Presenters will discuss arthritis and how the stress of the holidays can affect your arthritis and what you can do to stay healthy. The seminar will begin at 6 p.m. with check-in beginning at 5 p.m. From 5 – 6 p.m. vendors tables will be available with information from each presenter, the Arthritis Foundation, aromatherapy information and you can get your balance checked with HectorPT’s balance machine.

Please call the Arthritis Foundation at 518-456-1203 to register for this program.

Click here for more information.

If you enjoy working with people and would like to teach the public Tai Chi for their arthritis then join us on Friday, November 18th and Saturday, Novemebr 19th from 9-5 p.m. for the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program Part I Training. This training will be held at the Clifton Park Center Mall in Clifton Park and will be taught by Marty Kidder, a Master Trainer for the program. Once training is completed and you are awarded your certificate, you will then be able to offer the program to the public. The Tai Chi program is very beneficial for those that have a form of arthritis. The movements are at a higher stance than other forms of Tai Chi and those that have participated in the class have found it very beneficial and relaxing.

For more information, please contact Sonya Andrew at the Arthritis Foundation Northeastern New York office at 518-456-1203.

Tai Chi Training 11-18-19-2011

Massage is an ancient form of pain and stress relief practiced by most worldwide cultures. These techniques may involve not only physical manipulation of the body’s tissues, but also relaxation techniques. Massage may involve use of heat and cold applications to the skin, or the use of oil or lotion to ease gliding of hands or tools against the skin.

Here’s a brief overview of the many types of massage therapy. Be sure to tell your massage therapist that you have arthritis, and point out particular joints that are affected, prior to your session. Before getting any type of massage, consult your doctor to make sure massage is safe for your arthritis and any other health conditions you may have.

If you think that lifting weights isn’t for you because of your arthritis, think again. Strength training is a vital component of a well-balanced workout, and using weights can be a safe and effective way to increase your strength, range of motion, balance and stamina, and to reduce your chance of falling. And that can make it easier to do daily tasks like climbing stairs or brushing your hair.

There are a few key precautions to take – starting with getting approval from your doctor and physical therapist. A few more points to consider:

• Types of Weight. If it’s difficult to grip handheld weights like dumbbells, try strap-on waist weights for arm exercise.
• Amount of Weight. You should have no joint pain lifting weights, so choose a weight that challenges your muscles but does not cause pain. Start with 1 – 3 pound weights for your arms and 2 – 5 pound weights for your legs.
• Repetitions and Sets. Begin with 3 to 4 repetitions and slowly work up to 8 – 10 reps. As your strength increases over time, 2 to 3 sets are OK. Just don’t overdo it.
• Form. To avoid injury or overtaxing your joints, pay particular attention to your form and maintaining proper body alignment.
• Breathing and Pace. Don’t hold your breath. Exhale as you lift the weight and inhale as you lower it in slow, controlled, deliberate movements. Count to 2 as you lift the weight and count to 4 as you lower it.

Track & React is an online self-management tool that makes tracking your health easy.

With track & React you can:

DISCOVER which daily activities – sleep, nutrition, exercise, mood or medication.

INPUT your daily activities and symptoms in your private account.

IDENTIFY trends over time.

PRINT your Arthritis Impact graph to share with your doctor.

SET personalized goals.

FIND advice and tips from the experts you trust at Arthritis Today on how to live better.

New research suggests that eating some apple on a daily basis might lower levels of cholesterol as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker of inflammation in the blood.

In the study of 160 women ages 45 to 65, half of the participants ate three-quarters of a cup of dried apples every day for a year, and the other half ate a cup of prunes – each 240 calories. Within 6 months, the apple eaters’ LDL (bad) cholesterol decreased 23 percent, their HDL (good) cholesterol increased 4 percent and their CRP fell 32 percent.

“Lower CRP is better for people with many inflammatory-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, ” says study author Bahram H. Arjmandi, PhD, chair of Florida State University’s department of nutrition, food and exercise science in Tallahassee.