This report provides patient-led insights into the lived experience of knee osteoarthritis (OA) across the Yorkshire and Humber region. It explores how OA affects quality of life, mental health, and access to treatment, particularly within the NHS musculoskeletal (MSK) care pathway.
Through in-depth interviews with patients at various stages of the total knee replacement (TKR) journey, five key themes emerged:
- Impact on daily life and independence
- Emotional and psychological burden
- Frustrations with the NHS care pathway
- Hesitancy and barriers around TKR surgery
- Interest in and limited awareness of AposHealth®, a medical shoe, as a non-surgical alternative.
The findings reveal a strong patient desire for earlier, more holistic, and less invasive interventions. The report concludes with actionable recommendations to improve patient-centred care, enhance clinician awareness, and support the equitable integration of AposHealth® into NHS pathways.