

About ArthritisPower
As an arthritis patient, you can make a difference in the fight against arthritis and related conditions with this free app.
Here’s how:
Track your symptoms and treatments with these powerful features
View your data over time
Join ArthritisPower
CreakyJoints has teamed up with rheumatology researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to launch ArthritisPower, a non-profit, patient-inspired and patient-managed research initiative.
Consider joining today. Transform your story into powerful clues that will help researchers develop better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
For all devices
Track your symptoms and view results wherever it’s convenient for you. ArthritisPower is available for multiple devices and platforms —from desktop to smartphone to tablet.

Meet the people behind ArthritisPower
In 2014, CreakyJoints created a Patient-Powered Research Network called ArthritisPower® in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. ArthritisPower is part of the interconnected National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet), a collaboration of patient groups, registries and health systems.
Patient Governor Group for ArthritisPower, the Patient-Powered Research Network
This innovative, nationwide research network of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis (e.g., psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), and other conditions is led by a Patient Governor Group with input from the wider CreakyJoints community, putting patients at the center of all research conducted with ArthritisPower.
“Patient Governors are the critical connection between research scientists and the CreakyJoints community of people living with arthritis. They tell us what issues are important to study from their perspective. They speak from their own experience to flag potential challenges so we can adjust when preparing to do research.”
– Ben Nowell, PhD, Director, Patient-Centered Research at CreakyJoints
ArthritisPower Patient Governor Group

Shelly F.
Chair

Kristine C.
Vice Chair

Regan R.

Paris D.

Jennifer W.

Kip B.

Joan W.

Ashley N.

Ryan R.

Zoe R.

Vanessa K.
Ben Nowell, PhD,
Principal Investigator
W. Benjamin Nowell, PhD, MSW, is Director, Patient-Centered Research, at the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), CreakyJoints® and Principal Investigator (PI) of ArthritisPower® Patient-Powered Research Network. He directs ArthritisPower along with co-PIs Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD, MPH (GHLF) and Jeffrey Curtis, MD, MS, MPH (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Ben leads all research activities conducted by the organization, including facilitating studies conducted with academic, government, and industry partners. His research interests include examination of the factors that facilitate patient engagement as research partners, the use of patient-generated data for use in real-world evidence, and shared decision making in rheumatologic and musculoskeletal conditions. Prior to joining GHLF, Ben worked as a medical social worker and Community and Long-Term Care Coordinator for the Ottawa Regional Stroke Centre and as Research Coordinator for an evaluation of participant outcomes in Arthritis Foundation chronic disease self-management programs for arthritis. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Welfare (MSW) from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in Social Work (PhD) from Columbia University.
Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD, MPH,
Co-Principal Investigator
Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD, MPH, is Associate Director, Patient-Centered Research, at the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), CreakyJoints® and Co- Principal Investigator (PI) of ArthritisPower® Patient-Powered Research Network. Dr. Venkatachalam completed her undergraduate degree in Mumbai, before moving to the United Kingdom to complete a master’s degree in literature at the University of Durham, and earned her PhD in critical theory at the University of Nottingham. Following significant life events that required navigating health systems as patient and a caregiver, she earned an advanced master’s degree in global health from New York University (NYU), during which she also won the prestigious Paul Ambrose Scholars Program fellowship awarded by the by the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. Her research interests include patient engagement, chronic pain management and shared decision making in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2017.
ArthritisPower core features
From tracking your symptoms and medications to sharing your experience, ArthritisPower is there for you.

The Numbers
21,765
Patients
32,897
Reported Treatments
264,571
Reported Outcomes
ArthritisPower registry infrastructure was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Award (PCORI Contract Number PPRN-1306-04811). ArthritisPower was jointly developed by the nonprofit Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), its associated CreakyJoints arthritis patient community, and rheumatology researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
FAQs
Please keep in mind that throughout your use of ArthritisPower, you can provide feedback or ask questions at any time by contacting us. We’ve listed some frequently asked questions here for your convenience.
What conditions are included in the registry?
Currently our research includes the following conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Psoriasis, Osteoporosis/Osteopenia/low bone mineral density, Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis), Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (E.g. Crohn’s, Ulcerati), Lupus, Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), Polymyositis, and Dermatomyositis.
Will ArthritisPower keep my information confidential?
Yes. The information you provide will only be used for tracking trends among patients. The only time your information would be shared with identifying data is if we are linking the data with a health institution and we want to ensure the correct person’s data is being used. Besides this, your info will not be connected with you in any way.
Is it required for me to give my Social Security number (SSN)?
No! In the event that we do ask for it, it is completely optional. It is not necessary to provide your SSN to participate in ArthritisPower.
Can ArthritisPower make health recommendations for me?
Unfortunately, no. The purpose of ArthritisPower is to track your health for both your benefit and the benefit of research. However, we will let you know about research findings to keep you up-to-date on what scientists are learning from the data you are contributing so that you can work with your doctor on your health decision making.


Get Started with ArthritisPower
Ready to help transform the future of arthritis care?
Already registered? Log in or download for iOS or Android