May is Arthritis Awareness Month

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints in the body.  There are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis. Arthritis has become a public health problem in the United States and affects a large number of people. In fact, 1 in 5 adults have been formally diagnosed with this debilitating condition. 

What are the risk factors?

• Age, gender, genetics (non-preventable)
• Overweight and obesity, joint injuries, infection, occupation (preventable)

What are the symptoms?

• Joint pain or swelling
• Reduced ability to move a joint or stiffness
• Redness or fluid around the joint
• Warm or tender joints

How is it treated?

• Exercise
• Prescription drugs
• Supplements
• Alternative Therapies

Resources:

For more information about arthritis visit the following websites:

• Arthritis Foundation
• Medline Plus
• Interactive Arthritis Tutorial
• Arthritis Diet Claims: Fact or Fiction

Wellness liaisons are valuable champions for wellness at their worksite. Every FCPS site should have a designated wellness liaison, who acts as a partner with HR Wellness to help bring wellness initiatives to their colleagues. Wellness liaisons are appointed by their site manager or principal. Please contact hrwellness@fcps.edu if your site does not have a wellness liaison or if you will no longer be the wellness liaison for your site.

Wellness liaisons assist with:

• Coordinating HR Wellness initiatives, such as flu clinics and fitness challenges
• Collecting and distributing materials, such as pedometers, coupons, and brochures for wellness events and fitness challenges
• Communicating with HR Wellness regarding site-specific needs, such as fitness classes, health events, etc.

Wellness Liaison Orientation
Whether you are a new wellness liaison or would simply enjoy a refresher class, please register for our orientation. It will help answer your questions and get you started. To select a date and time for an orientation, log on to My PLT and type “wellness” in the course offerings. Then register for the date and time you prefer.

This year's Wellness Liaison Orientation will be held on Monday, October 3, 2011. There will be two sessions; 2:30-3:15 and 3:30-4:15 at the Gatehouse Administration Center.

If you are unable to attend any of the sessions, we are happy to provide a phone-coaching session or visit you at your worksite.
E-mail hrwellness@fcps.edu if you’d like to schedule an appointment for a consultation.

School Wellness Award

All FCPS schools can apply for the Golden Wellness Award. This award is designed to recognize a focus on wellness in their school and in their community. It also offers guidelines to schools that are working to improve community wellness. Schools accumulating above 20 points are eligible for the Green Wellness Award, Red Wellness Award, or Golden Wellness Award. This award is in the form of an icon that can be displayed on the school’s home page. Submissions are accepted starting April 1 with a deadline of May 2. Click here for more information on how to apply. If you would like assistance with the application process, contact HRWellness@fcps.edu.

Start a Site Wellness Program
Learn how to start a walking challenge, after-work fitness class, health fair, or talk at your site:
Creating Site Wellness Programs
How to Plan a Health Fair

Set Up & Run a Site Flu Clinic
Tools to help you promote and coordinate a flu clinic for your site:
How to Hold a Site Flu Clinic
Flu Clinic Scheduler

Welcome to Thrive Across America!

Registration and team formation for The Thrive Across America Fitness Challenge has officially ended.  FCPS employees who did not register for the challenge can still access the Thrive Across America (TAA)  and track their own personal challenge as well as utilize the resources although they will not be eligible for competitions or prizes. The site is available to all FCPS employees until April 2013.  

Learn more about the Thrive! program and see the fantastic prizes.