The Arthritis Foundation and Covidien (NYSE: COV) have joined forces to help advance awareness and support for millions of people suffering from osteoarthritis in the United States. Covidien will serve as a sponsor of the Foundation's Let's Move Together Movement Tracker, an educational and physical activity resource for those suffering from arthritis. The tracker provides patients with personalized, step-by-step support to reach their exercise goals and stay physically active—an important component of effective arthritis treatment.
“Our goal, in conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation, is to provide educational and useful tools, like the Movement Tracker, to patients seeking treatment-plan support and long-term success.”
The Let's Move Together Movement Tracker is an online tool members can use to set personal goals, benchmark their physical activity and keep motivated to stay active. Social media applications for the tracker include a widget, enabling users to display progress updates on their Arthritis Foundation community page, Facebook or MySpace pages.
"The Foundation is committed to identifying ways to cure and treat arthritis, but prevention is also central to our mission. Regular physical activity, which is encouraged by the Movement Tracker, can play a great role in prevention of the most common form of arthritis," said Rick Bell, Managing Director of Cause Development with the Arthritis Foundation. "We are excited about working with Covidien on this important initiative."
Launched in January 2009, the Let's Move Together campaign is a nationwide movement designed to inspire people to move every day to prevent or treat arthritis. The campaign encourages daily physical activity for better health and participation in the Arthritis Foundation's local Arthritis Walks—an annual event that promotes fun and fitness.
"Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 10 million Americans—many of whom live with significant pain that affects their daily function," said Herbert Neuman, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Pharmaceuticals, Covidien. "Our goal, in conjunction with the Arthritis Foundation, is to provide educational and useful tools, like the Movement Tracker, to patients seeking treatment-plan support and long-term success."
Knee OA is among the five leading causes of disability in adults. According to the Arthritis Foundation, it is a chronic condition in which joint cartilage, the smooth tissue that cushions the bone and allows easy joint movement, breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness and loss of movement in the joint.
Mallinckrodt, a Covidien company, has introduced PENNSAID® (diclofenac sodium topical solution) 1.5% w/w, a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). PENNSAID is indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee(s). For more information on PENNSAID, including Important Risk Information and boxed warning, see below.
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