Millions of Americans and thousands of Montanans suffer from some kind of arthritis in their daily lives. Programs run by the Department of Public Health and Human Services seek to offer reprieves from the painful affliction.

The Montana Arthritis Program offers physical activity and self-management education programs such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and Walk with Ease.

Kalispell has two places hosting these programs: The Summit Medical Fitness Center and Flathead Health and Fitness.

Julie Cummins, a certified personal trainer at Flathead Health and Fitness, said grants from the Department of Health and Human Services have made the programs possible, although attendance is sparse so far.

“We’re doing rolling enrollment through the program so we could have a new person and someone who has been enrolled for a year,” she said. “So we have to get creative with how we go through the program.”

Arthritis is a joint disorder characterized by painful swelling of the joints, particularly noticeable in the hands, knees and ankles. Stiffness, muscle aches and loss of flexibility are all possible symptoms.

Cummins and another trainer at the gym have undergone special arthritis training, as have employees at The Summit. Flathead Health and Fitness owner Tim Price sought federal grant funding for the program.

For the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, most of the exercises are seated, but the more strength and flexibility a person builds, the more varied the program can become.

“The goal we have is to reduce pain and stiffness, improve mobility and improve strength,” Cummins said. “We just hope we can make daily activities a little easier.”

The class at Flathead Health and Fitness is Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. A nearly identical program is held at The Summit.

The Summit has another program, Walk with Ease, which meets three times a week in groups to go on walks and improve mobility.

Dr. Pam Roberts, a health and wellness coach, has taught Walk with Ease in the past. She said the 18-week class is a good way to get into the wellness mindset for people with arthritis.

“It’s a great entry-level course on a nice walking track,” she said. “Hard concrete isn’t good for people with joint pain, so this can help them fix walking motions to lessen pain.”

Walk with Ease meets three times a week in the fall and twice weekly in the summer.

Despite the belief that arthritis is something only the elderly get, Cummins said it impacts a massive amount of Americans, including more than a quarter of adult Montanans.

A total of 215,000 Montanans have some degree of doctor- or self-diagnosed arthritis, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. More than 30 percent of adults with arthritis report they are not physically active, which can worsen symptoms of the painful joint affliction. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects many younger people.

“This isn’t necessarily an older American program,” Cummins said. “There are over a million Americans with rheumatoid.”

Over the last three years, more than 1,500 Montanans have used the programs. Some sites that offer the programs charge fees while others allow the classes for free. Scholarships through the Department of Health and Human Services are available for those who can’t pay.

Flathead Health and Fitness has an eight-week program that costs $49 for gym members or $59 for nonmembers. The Summit has an affordable punch-card system for nonmembers; the class is free for members.

Other program sites in Northwest Montana include Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby, Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork and St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson.

To contact Flathead Health and Fitness, call 752-2438. To contact Dr. Roberts at The Summit, call 751-5374.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.