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ARMA Newsletter January 2026
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by Adrian Bradley, CEO, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)
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I’m not sure whether to start with excitement for the year ahead… or an apology for this newsletter arriving later than planned thanks to a small but mighty IT saga behind the scenes. Let’s call it proof that even in a digital age, progress still occasionally involves turning things off and on again.
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But delays aside, there’s a real sense of momentum building across our community. This is going to be a pivotal year for ARMA and for MSK health. We’re in the final stages of shaping our new strategy and long term vision, shaped by conversations, surveys and shared thinking from many of you. I’m genuinely excited about what’s emerging. We will make a clearer, bolder case for MSK health as fundamental to how people live, work and age well.
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The journey ahead is about turning that vision into action. Over the coming months, we’ll publish the strategy, deepen engagement with members and partners, and step up our voice with policy makers as national plans take shape. Key milestones will include bringing new partners into our alliance, sharpening our policy asks, and creating more opportunities for members to collaborate and influence together.
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The challenge is big. We must raise the profile and prominence of MSK health in public policy so prevention, neighbourhood support, work and health, and tackling inequalities become core priorities, not afterthoughts.
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As ever, ARMA’s strength is collective. None of us can shift the system alone, but together, we absolutely can.
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ARMA Launches New Policy Position on MSK Prevention
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Too often, prevention is seen as something that happens in clinics, but true prevention starts long before that. It’s about creating the conditions that make good MSK health possible for everyone, everywhere.
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ARMA’s new policy position paper on MSK prevention calls for a broader, more connected approach. With over 20 million people in the UK affected by MSK conditions prevention must be at the heart of national and local strategies. The benefits are clear, fewer people living in pain, more people staying active and independent, and stronger, more resilient communities.
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Our paper sets out three priorities for action:
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Start early and act across the life course.
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Good MSK health begins in childhood, is supported through adulthood by active environments and safe workplaces, and continues into later life through movement, falls prevention, and rehabilitation.
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Join up systems and services.
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Prevention works best when sectors collaborate. Local MSK networks should bring together healthcare, employers, community organisations, and fitness providers to offer early, holistic support.
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Create health, not just deliver care.
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MSK prevention depends on the social, economic, and environmental factors that shape our daily lives.
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Prevention can’t be achieved by the NHS alone. It’s everyone’s business and local authorities, employers, educators, and communities all have a part to play.
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BOA Annual Congress 2026 - Save the date
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The next BOA Annual Congress – with the theme of ‘the Changing Faces of Orthopaedics’ – is taking place at Olympia in London on 22nd-24th September 2026. For more details, please visit here.
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FSEM Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine
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Applications are now open for the FSEM Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine. Musculoskeletal conditions affect millions worldwide. This Diploma in MSK Medicine empowers healthcare professionals to deliver exceptional care through recognition of their clinical skills, knowledge and evidence-based practice. Exam sitting: 28th May 2026.
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ORUK invests in medical technology research
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Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) has announced a £100,000 investment in VerIQ Limited, a UK-based MedTech clinical research accelerator, through a convertible loan agreement. The investment will help advance VerIQ’s mission to transform how medical device and health technology research is delivered; ensuring that exciting new innovations reach our patients faster, with uncompromising scientific integrity.
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New report from the APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health
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A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has revealed more than half of people with osteoporosis say they’ve had no contact from the NHS about their condition in the past year.
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The ‘Seen, Heard, Supported: Transforming Osteoporosis Care’ report, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, also found that nearly one in four have had no contact for more than three years, exposing them to life-threatening hip and spinal fractures.
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Registration is now open for the NSN 2026 Annual Meeting
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A programme of sessions is now available for the NSN study day 2026, "Controversies in Spine Care", as part of the National Spine Network 2026 Annual Meeting in Birmingham on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
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Registration is now open for the NSN2026 event, and submissions have closed for abstracts. There will be presentations related to spinal care, quality improvement projects, service evaluations, audits, case studies, and clinical research.
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Early-Bird Rates END on Tuesday 27 January 2026. Visit the event page to register and for more details.
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SMILE-RA – Exercise just got easier
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NRAS understands that for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, physical activity is not a short‑term resolution but an important, sustained commitment that supports health throughout the year. SMILE-RA is a free, user friendly program designed to support people living with RA self-manage their condition.
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To help individuals incorporate exercise more effectively into daily life, NRAS has refined the original SMILE‑RA& Exercise module…
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NRAS JoinTogether group meeting
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For many people, attending a local group in person may not be possible. But with the NRAS JoinTogether digital groups, you can connect online with others who have similar interests and lifestyles. All groups are run by volunteers.
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A supportive space for women navigating Menopause and Inflammatory Arthritis: this group offers a welcoming, safe space for women to connect…
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SOMM Annual Teachers' Study Day
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SOMM Annual Teachers' Study Day: Reflecting, Sharing, and Planning Ahead
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SOMM recently hosted their Annual Teachers’ Study Day, an important event in the SOMM calendar. This day provides a unique opportunity for the teaching team to reflect on the past year, review and refine course content, and share innovative ideas that enhance the learning experience for students.
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Arthritis UK's new SKILLs Sessions
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SKILLs Sessions are a brand-new series of free-to-attend monthly webinars from Arthritis UK, driven by feedback from the SKILLs Community.
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The webinars will cover the most in-demand MSK topics.
Registration is essential.
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Upcoming SKILLs Sessions will focus on: Fibromyalgia; Supporting people with obesity; and Gout.
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Arthritis UK's MSK Bitesize webinar
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This is a 3-hour webinar on a wide range of MSK conditions that can present in primary care and the role of physical activity in preventing and managing MSK conditions. Topics include inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, and more.
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Thursday 16th April 2026, 6pm - 9pm on Microsoft Teams
£60
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Core Skills in MSK Care, Belfast
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This training focuses on developing the practical skills required in a typical 10-minute primary care consultation. Our training provides delegates a supportive environment to develop their confidence and skills in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with MSK conditions.
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Guy's Hospital MSK Injection Skills workshop
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The Education and Events Team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is excited to share two upcoming hands-on workshops in early 2026, designed to help you further refine your clinical skills and confidence in upper limb procedures.
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📅 Saturday 21 March 2026
🕘 09:00 – 13:30
📍 Physiotherapy Department, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT
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Take your ultrasound-guided injection skills to the next level with a practical, small group workshop focusing on upper limb sonoanatomy, image optimisation and real-time procedural practice using live models and advanced simulators. This session is ideal for clinicians who already have some MSK ultrasound experience and want to enhance accuracy, confidence and clinical decision making with expert feedback.
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👉 Early bird pricing available until January 2026 – book soon to secure your place.
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This workshop will offer tailored, expert-led learning and practical experience tailored to your professional development.
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PAE Pain Relief Patient study
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Pain Alliance Europe is pleased to share an invitation to take part in the QSPainRelief-patientPREF study, an important initiative seeking to better understand the real-life experiences and preferences of people living with chronic pain, with the aim of contributing to improved future treatment options.
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Survey of Physiotherapists Supporting Self-Management
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HCPC-registered physiotherapists are sought to participate in a new survey from the University of Hertfordshire:
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A Survey of Self-Efficacy and Performance among UK Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists Supporting Self-Management of Chronic Low Back Pain
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This is a cross-sectional survey of UK HCPC-registered physiotherapists working in a musculoskeletal setting with a caseload of chronic low back pain patients. The survey will assess self-efficacy and performance among UK MSK physiotherapists in supporting self-management in chronic low back pain patients.
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This research will run for about 4 weeks from 19/01/2026, and is expected to close 16/02/2026.
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ARMA Calendar
| 16 Feb 2026 |
Survey of Physios Supporting Self-Management closes |
| 25 Feb 2026, 7pm–8pm |
Arthritis UK webinar: Good practice with obesity |
| 10 Mar 2026 |
National Spine Network 2026 Annual Meeting, Birmingham |
| 11 Mar 2026, 9am-5pm |
Arthritis UK's Core Skills in MSK Care, Belfast |
| 21 Mar 2026, 9am |
Guy’s Hospital MSK Injection Skills workshop |
| 25 Mar 2026, 7pm–8pm |
Arthritis UK SKILLs webinar: Gout |
| 28 Mar 2026 |
SOMM Spinal Manual Therapy Masterclass, Liverpool |
| 16 Apr 2026, 6pm–9pm |
Arthritis UK’s MSK Bitesize webinar |
| 28 May 2026 |
FSEM Diploma in MSK Medicine exam |
| 22-24 Sept 2026 |
BOA Annual Congress 2026, London |
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We know that many people value our newsletter, webinars and the fact that we provide a voice for MSK health. We are increasingly asked: given that our membership is made up of organisations, how can an individual support ARMA? For this reason, we have set up a new supporter scheme.
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