Joe Namath said that his switch from football legend to osteoarthritis spokesman came after discussing the disease with his mother and realizing that his creaky joints could be more than just old football injuries.
Namath, who spoke Thursday to doctors and nurses while in Salt Lake City for a one-day trip, said arthritis in his spine, thumbs, and other joints is painful sometimes, but taking care of it well has saved him further grief.
Namath won fame as a quarterback for the New York Jets primarily in the 1960s and developed arthritis in his knees and thumbs after years of jarring conditioning, practices and games. He still has arthritis in his thumbs, but has had total replacement surgeries in both knees. His mother also has osteoarthritis; their experiences prompted him to start the Arthritis Huddle approximately five years ago.
He now is the spokesman for the group, which is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, a pharmaceutical company that makes arthritis medicine. The huddle promotes comprehensive treatment for osteoarthritis through exercise, nutrition, doctor's visits, medication, research, pain management, and family support.
Namath has visited dozens of cities promoting the approach, even when he knows that it is difficult to convince people to change their lifestyles.
"We try to prove that they can change their habits, their systems, their lifestyle and try to help," Namath said. "We try to get people active when they haven't been."
An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, which is the breakdown of cartilage between joints that causes pain and stiffness. Genetics, obesity, injuries and repeated stress on certain joints can cause the disease, but Namath's message is that proper care will mitigate the pain and inconvenience.
"Find out what the problem is," Namath said. "Answers are important to us, especially when we're loaded with questions. There's no cure, but we can learn to deal with it. We know how to help people live that way."
Namath, 62, said he exercises by swimming and using machines designed for low-impact aerobic workouts. Weight training also strengthens muscles, which takes pressure off strained joints, he said.
"There are a whole lot of people with established habits and if they haven't been taking care of themselves," arthritis can be a tougher disease to manage, he said.
Osteoarthritis is one of many forms of arthritis. Stiff and worn joints caused by osteoarthritis differ slightly from the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis and other forms. There is no known cure for arthritis, but patients swear by various treatments and dietary supplements, including fish oil and glucosamine, which Namath recommends.
A knee injury during Namath's last year of college caused his knees to swell periodically; sometimes he had to drain them during halftime to allow him to complete the game. He is known for predicting the Jets' underdog victory in 1969 against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. His penchant for full-length fur coats on the sidelines between plays and his high-profile New York City hijinks garnered him the "Broadway Joe" nickname.
Namath said he was looking forward to the start of the football season and planned on watching parts of the University of Utah opening game tonight from Florida. "I can't promise the whole thing," he said, laughing about the expected late-night game ending in Florida, which is two hours ahead of Utah.
E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com