Benefits of a Self-Management System

One of the most frustrating aspects of living with joint pain is the sense that nothing can be done. As we've shown throughout this site, this is a misconception. There is a tremendous amount that can be done about joint discomfort. The focus of the Insulite program is to educate you about all the factors that influence the development of joint pain, the factors that make joint pain worse, and the factors that might help you reduce your joint discomfort.

Our program is a self-management program. This means that we will help guide you through the process of taking control of your own joint health effort. In order to better understand the benefits that may be possible with a self-management program, we've chosen to disucss three of the many studies that have been done on self-management programs for osteoarthritis. As we’ve shown, there are many things that you can do on an organized self-management program that may truly change your life. This was shown, for example, in a study of 544 people at Coventry University. One group was active in an arthritis self-management program, while the other group was not. They were tested at the beginning of the study, at 4 months, and at 12 months.

At 12 months, those in the self-management group had significantly:

Improved exercise habits
Better symptom management
Better diet
More relaxation
Improved pain
Less fatigue
Less anxiety
Less depression
Better mood

A randomized controlled study of the Arthritis Self-Management Programme in the UK

In another study, 79 people were enrolled to see whether a self-management program improved their osteoarthritis of the knee. They were tested at 8 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Those on the self-management program experienced significant improvement in their pain, physical function, social function, vitality, and mental health status over the 12 month study period. The self-care methods used included:

Pain management strategies

Exercise advice

Joint protection

Medication, pain relievers

Balance and falls protection

Coping with negative emotions

Fatigue

Self-Management skills

[Coleman, S, Briffa, K, Conroy, H, et al. Short and medium-term effects of an education self-management program for individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee, designed and delivered by health professionals: a quality assurance study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord 2008;9:117.]

It is helpful to look at these self-care studies, because it can give you a sense of confidence about the possibility of improving your quality of life through a self-care program. Another study published in 2007 further emphasizes this point. Over 140 people with osteoarthritis were enrolled in a self-management program that included exercise. The authors found that "the intervention had a highly and significant positive effect in pain reduction, fatigue, knee range of motion, the practice of exercise routines and the number of medical consultations." The doctors went on to say that there was also "an improvement in functional status over a 16-week period."

[Yip, YB, Sit, JW, Fung, KK, et al. Impact of an arthritis self-management programme with an added exercise component for osteoarthritis knee sufferers on improving pain, functional outcomes, and use of health care services: An experimental study. Patient Educ Couns 2007;65(1):113-21.]

These are impressive changes to one's pain, quality of life, and feeling of wellbeing. The Insulite System for Healthy Joints expands beyond the self-care methods in these studies, to focus on key additional areas, such as muscle strength, inflammatory foods, anti-inflammatory diet, glycemic load, glycation of joint proteins (sugar-damaged joint tissue), and nutrient modifiers of joint repair. In addition, we provide a 52-week program that provides weekly guidelines, insight, and inspiration as you embark on the journey of gaining control over your symptoms.

What do we mean by “management?”

Our program is called the Insulite System for Healthy Joints. Technically, it is a disease self-management system, but it is important to understand how we are using the word “management.” Doctors increasingly realize that many of the disorders they encounter in their practice are lifestyle conditions. This means that the conditions respond well to diet, exercise, stress management techniques, and other interventions that might replace or augment commonly used medical care. Clinics are now turning to what are called self-management systems, where step-by-step programs are outlined for individuals to carry out at home and at their own pace.

Using a self-management program, individuals can take better charge of their own lives, while the doctor monitors their care. People find success in self-management programs, because it gives them control over their health and over the pace at which they work toward feeling better. They get direction, organization, and support. Doctors like self-management programs, because such programs usually provide the things that are difficult for doctors to provide. That is, day-to-day support and a full complement of lifestyle recommendations—things difficult to offer in the course of a busy medical practice.

So, our program is a self-management program. It is a structured, but flexible plan that you can take at your own pace. You are the manager. However, you are advised to continue working as a partner with your doctor on all aspects of your care. Our program is designed to support and augment whatever doctor-prescribed effort you are making. We will never suggest that you quit or change your medication in any way. We will always suggest that you discuss whatever concerns you may have with your health care professional.

The staff at Insulite Labs is available to answer any questions and offer support as it relates to our program or to lifestyle changes you are trying to make. In that regard, Insulite Labs does not manage your program. That is between you and your doctor. We are here to help, to educate, to answer questions, to offer support, and to provide community. Of course, we are also proud of the comprehensive system we’ve built to help you. In that respect, we want to keep developing programs that help people realize their dreams—the ability to more fully celebrate life by feeling better.