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Not just another NHSE initiative
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I have just returned from the BSR conference where it was good to catch up with ARMA members, key stakeholders and make new connections. Watching the contributions of patient organisations to the conference I was struck again by the huge role that the voluntary sector can play in good MSK health. So, it is good to see this feature increasingly in the BestMSK Health messaging. Phrases such as “consider referral to third sector/voluntary sector for ongoing management rehabilitation and support” appear in many of the programme’s resources.
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How treating my rheumatic disease has influenced my hopes for the future
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Guest blog by Chantal Lyons. This essay was the national selection entry winner for the UK for the Edgar Stene Prize 2022
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Everything changed in the year I turned twenty-three. In the spring, I began to run, dragging my unfit body off the sofa and into the local park. In the summer, I began to dream of running the London Marathon like my father had. And in the autumn, I could no longer ignore the white-hot pain growing in my hips and back.
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MSK health inequalities resources
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In common with other health conditions, there are significant health inequalities in MSK. Addressing this is one of ARMA’s priorities. There is a lot of information about health inequalities, but finding MSK specific information is harder.
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To help those with an interest in tackling MSK health inequalities, we have created a resource page to signpost to the most relevant and useful resources and information specifically about MSK health inequalities.
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The resource is not intended as an exhaustive list of research on MSK health inequalities. We have prioritised those which have a UK focus, which draw useful findings or are most likely to be of value to those trying to address health inequalities. We have included some resources related to pain since this is a very significant aspect of long term MSK conditions.
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ARMA welcomes Freehab
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We are very pleased to warmly welcome Freehab as a new associate member of ARMA. Freehab is a social enterprise. Freehab believes everybody should be able to access the health services they need, when they need it, regardless of their financial circumstances.
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Ollie Coburn, founder and managing director of Freehab, says:
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“Activity for health is our key message. But we’re not just interested in physical activity. We’re taking positive action on social issues and giving people the knowledge and power to invest in their health.”
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ARMA trustee elections
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Ever thought of becoming a trustee of ARMA?
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The ARMA Board consists of nine trustees elected by the membership and up to four co-opted trustees, who are appointed by the Board. Nominations for election to the Board are open until 20 May 2022. You will need a connection with one of our member organisations and to be nominated by a member organisation.
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Trustees are responsible for the governance, strategy and management of the charity. They contribute to the strategic development of the organisation and the delivery of its services, taking part in Board meetings and in other activities between meetings as required.
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ARMA social prescribing resource
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Recently, ARMA published a new resource for social prescribing for musculoskeletal conditions. The resource aims to help link workers make a difference to the lives of people with MSK conditions.
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The resource is split into four sections including mental health, work and education, self-managing musculoskeletal conditions and information about musculoskeletal health.
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The resource includes links to useful programmes and support.
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Key MSK COVID-19 resources
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ARMA continues to keep its COVID-19 resources page up to date.
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Members' news
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Bone Matters
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The Royal Osteoporosis Society has launched their new #BoneMatters programme, a series of online expert information events.
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The first webinar of the series is on Medication Support: helping people make informed decisions about recommended osteoporosis drug treatment. Join the ROS on Tuesday 17 May to hear from leading experts Dr Nicky Peel, Dr Zoe Paskins and Professor David Armstrong on key topics to help you make decisions about your osteoporosis drug treatment.
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Blood matters
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Blood Matters is the new National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) guide to the blood tests used in managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and adult juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
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Blood tests are an important part of both the diagnosis and monitoring of RA and JIA, but the different tests, abbreviations and numbers can be confusing, and it might not always be clear to you what the purpose of each test is, why it’s important and what the results mean.
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Gloucestershire Cryotherapy trial following knee surgery
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Recovery from knee replacement surgery can be delayed by pain and swelling caused by the operation. Encouraging range of movement and mobilisation as soon as possible after surgery is part of the ‘Enhanced Recovery after Surgery’ pathway at Cheltenham General Hospital. Thanks to a grant from the Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust (GAT), and in partnership with PhysioLab Technologies who have designed an innovative cryotherapy system…
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NASS is recruiting a Senior Health Engagement Officer
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The Senior Health Professionals Engagement Officer role involves working with colleagues to deepen NASS's relationships with healthcare professionals and raise awareness and engagement with two key programmes: Act on Axial SpA and Aspiring to Excellence. The successful candidate will create and promote new resources to healthcare professionals and promote NASS’s work through a range of channels.
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Equity, Diversity and Belonging (EDB) Awareness Tool
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PhysioFirst and the CSP LGBTQIA+ network have collaboratively run a project with stakeholders to promote EDB within the recognised Professional Networks (PN) of the CSP. The outcome of this project, which was structured as a series of three facilitated meetings attended by each participating Professional Network, is the first version of an EDB reflective awareness tool. The aim of this awareness tool is to prompt, guide and support the Leadership Teams of all PNs…
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PCRMM webinar - Managing Low Back Pain and Sciatica
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Tuesday 31 May, 7 – 8:30pm
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This engaging and extremely interesting webinar will be given by Ian Bernstein and Dan Bourke; they explore what works and what doesn’t work for managing low back pain and sciatica in primary and community care. They combine a review of NICE guidelines with a discussion about how they implement them in practice.
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PCRMM Annual Conference 2022 – Save the Date
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“MSK Across Multi-Disciplinary First Contact Care” 11 and 12 November 2022
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The Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society is delighted to announce this year’s conference. The success of past conferences engenders motivation for the Society to try and improve each year and offer more of what will educate, stimulate and benefit you all. SAVE THE DATE!
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Introducing Informatree
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People living with psoriatic arthritis worked together with healthcare professionals who treat people with the condition, psychologists and researchers to develop the new resource.
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Therapy Expo Partnership
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BASRaT is proud to partner with Therapy Expo this year and has nominated speakers across a range of topics, including: women's health; persistent pain; S&C in non-elite populations; MSK ultrasound and many more.
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The BASRaT team is looking forward to meeting more of our registrants in person. Therapy Expo takes place 23 - 24 of November 2022 at Birmingham NEC.
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Ending the lottery for fracture care
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The ROS continues to promote their national campaign to end postcode lottery for osteoporosis care and treatment
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The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has launched a national petition calling for 100% Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) coverage in both England and Wales. This is part of a broader national campaign following a report and recommendations from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Osteoporosis and Bone Health.
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BestMSK Health update
New resources for the BestMSK Health programme have been added to the NHS Futures site, including the Primary and Community Care toolkit and a revised high impact strategy including new recommendations on paediatrics and self-management. All the resources are aimed at anyone at any level involved in improving MSK services. The High Impact Strategy contains a lot of recommendations, but most people only need to read the core recommendations and those for their specific area of work.
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The launch webinar should be available on the site soon. There is also a brief Q&A about how to use the primary and community toolkit which is available without registering for Futures. Please share widely.
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You need to register for the Futures site to join the workstream. Anyone can register, and if you have any problems contact the programme email address.
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ARMA chronic pain resources
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Recently, ARMA published a suite of chronic pain resources to address the 15.5 million people and 81% of people with a musculoskeletal condition reporting being in chronic pain. Chronic (persistent or long-lasting or recurrent) pain is life-changing and can affect all parts of life. Chronic pain is linked to deprivation and health inequalities. For these reasons, chronic pain is important to the ARMA alliance of members.
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ARMA members have collaborated to produce these resources:
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This sets out what ARMA believes should be available in every area for people living with long term pain. Most of this provision needs to be delivered locally, as close as possible to people. We believe that every local health body (ICS, Health Board or Health and Social Care Trust) should have a plan for how this will be delivered. Read the "Core Offer".
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ARMA Chronic Pain Policy Position Paper
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The policy position paper makes recommendations for chronic pain including that more community-based approaches to pain should be developed to meet the needs of people with chronic pain. Multidisciplinary, networked, personalised approaches to pain should be standard.
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ARMA Calendar
| 4 May 2022 |
FSEM Diploma in MSK Medicine exam |
| 4 May 2022 |
Champions in Primary Care closes to applications |
| 4 May 2022, 10am |
Aspiring to Excellence closes to applications |
| 4 May 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Mobility aids around the house |
| 11 May 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Exercising during an axial SpA flare |
| 17 May 2022 |
ROS Bone Matters webinar: Medication support |
| 18 May 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Somatic movement spinal exercises |
| 20 May 2022 |
Nominations close for election to the ARMA Board |
| 31 May 2022, 7–8:30pm |
PCRMM webinar – Managing Low Back Pain and Sciatica |
| 8 June 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Men and axial SpA with Matt Daly, physiotherapist |
| 13–17 June 2022 |
JIA Awareness Week |
| 15 June 2022 5pm |
NICE Consultation closes on osteoarthritis update |
| 17 June 2022 |
#WearPurpleforJIA Day |
| 22 June 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Non-biologic medication for axial SpA |
| 6 July 2022, 1pm |
NASS Live: Therapeutic Tai Chi for axial SpA |
| 12–18 Sept 2022 |
RA Awareness Week |
| 19 Oct 2022 |
NOA Annual Members’ Conference, Birmingham |
| 11-12 Nov 2022 |
PCRMM Annual Conference 2022 |
| 23–24 Nov 2022 |
Therapy Expo |
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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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