MSK & Arthritis News

Arthritis UK Chronic pain webinar

Chronic pain: management, guidelines, and opioid reduction in primary care

Wednesday 13th January 2027, 6:30 to 8:30pm

Virtual webinar via Microsoft Teams

Enhance your approach to persistent and chronic pain in this two-hour primary care webinar. Develop practical consultation skills, explore non-pharmacological strategies, review medication safely, and apply NICE aligned opioid reduction principles. Includes discussion, case-based learning, resource handouts, and two CPD points.

More details and booking.

Arthritis UK Effective consultations course

Effective consultations: examination, diagnosis, and management of musculoskeletal presentations

Wednesday 3rd February 2027, 8:45am to 5pm
(in-person event)

Strengthen your MSK consultation skills in this full‑day, interactive course for primary care. Develop clear, decluttered approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and communication across common presentations. Focusing on back, shoulder and knee, this day includes hands‑on workshops, practical skill‑building, resources, and 7 CPD points. Ideal for anyone undertaking MSK consultations in busy clinical settings.

More details and booking.

Fibromyalgia and inflammatory arthritis

Diagnosis, differentiation, and management

Wednesday 7th October 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Online via Microsoft Teams

Strengthen diagnostic confidence in primary care with this two-hour webinar on differentiating fibromyalgia syndrome and inflammatory arthritis. Explore key clinical clues, effective use of investigations, communication strategies, self-management support, and referral considerations. Includes case-based learning, resource handouts, and two CPD points.

More details and booking.

ORUK’s ninth start-up investment

ORUK makes its ninth investment in an MSK start-up

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) is one of the organisations providing seed funding for Vitalis Ortho, an early-stage MSK business developing a regenerative intervention for knee osteoarthritis. This the ninth MSK start-up in which ORUK has invested. The team from Vitalis Ortho were part of ORUK’s most recent MSK Innovation Accelerator, a programme delivered by the MedTech SuperConnector at Imperial to develop the next generation of MSK entrepreneurs. At the end of this programme, participants pitch to ORUK’s Investment Committee for pre-seed and seed funding of around £100k.…

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Keep Britain Working conference

MSK Innovation in the Workplace
13th October 2026, Royal Society of Medicine, W1

Tickets are now on sale for the first UK conference dedicated to the role and importance of MSK innovation in the workplace.

‘Keep Britain working: MSK Innovation in the Workplace’ (on the 13th October at the Royal Society of Medicine) will showcase breakthrough technologies, practical deployment strategies, and collaborative opportunities to help employers prevent work-related MSK conditions and enable people with poor MSK health to stay in the workplace or get back into work.…

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What does a healthy nation really look like?

by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most since joining ARMA has been the chance to meet so many of our members and partners. Every conversation is different. Some focus on NHS reform, others on prevention, research, rehabilitation, work and health, or supporting people to live well with long-term conditions.

Despite those different perspectives, I’ve noticed a common thread running through almost every discussion. It has prompted me to keep asking myself one simple question:

What do we actually mean when we talk about creating a healthier nation?


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The importance of supported self-management

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is encouraging people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to take an active role in managing their condition through its latest article Supported Self-Management Matters. Written by NRAS Founder and National Patient Champion Ailsa Bosworth MBE, the article explores how understanding and managing both the physical and emotional impact of RA can improve long-term health outcomes.

Highlighting the growing importance of self-management as NHS services face increasing pressures and more patients move to Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) pathways, it encourages people with RA to monitor symptoms, stay informed about their condition, engage with educational resources, and seek support when needed.…

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New methotrexate information sheet available

psoriasis associationYou likely know about the use of Methotrexate in treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease – but did you know it is also used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)?

The Psoriasis Association is pleased to share an updated version of its popular information sheet about Methotrexate, produced as part of an ongoing commitment to providing reliable, good quality health information. Methotrexate is often used on its own to treat psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, however it is sometimes used in conjunction with other medications, such as biologics, in order to help the other medication work more effectively by preventing the body from building up antibodies.…

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Have you attended A&E seeking treatment for a flare up of your persistent pain?

UCL flyerA new study at the University College London is researching the experiences of people attending A&E for help with their persistent pain.

Participation involves online interviews (30-45 minutes) discussing your experiences and pain treatment. 

The study runs until the end of August 2026. If you are interested or want more information, email the researcher Eshita Shah [email protected] at the Faculty of Population Health Sciences, UCL.