Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability in older people in the UK. The symptoms of joint pain and stiffness can lead to reduced joint function and deformity. Addressing lifestyle factors, namely exercise and maintaining an optimum weight, can reduce pain and improve joint function. This article focuses on how, by using the concept of goal setting, nurses can work with patients to develop a plan for becoming more active and for losing weight – if the patient is overweight – to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Nursing Standard. 29, 46, 43-50. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.46.43.e9941
Correspondence Peer reviewAll articles are subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software.
Received: 26 January 2015
Accepted: 19 February 2015
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