One of the goals of "Healthy People 2010" is to decrease the incidence of limitation in physical activity due to arthritis. Physical education, recreation, and dance professionals can play an important role in meeting this objective by addressing barriers to physical activity and exercise in older adults with arthritis, and by successfully increasing appropriate nonclinical-based physical activity and exercise programs for people with arthritis. Such programs and activities will not only improve older adults' quality of life by promoting healthy lifestyles, but may also substantially reduce the cost of health care for those with arthritis. This article discusses the nature of arthritis and accommodations for people with arthritis when planning appropriate nonclinical-based physical activity and exercise programs. (Contains 1 table.)