MSK & Arthritis News

Research into reality – reporting on innovations

by Liz Lawrence, Head of Health Service Improvement, Versus Arthritis

Versus Arthritis has a rich research heritage and has funded some great research that has advanced practice including ESCAPE-pain or ‘Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritis Pain through Exercise’. This is a six-week rehabilitation programme for people aged 45+ with persistent hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. ESCAPE-pain involves group education and exercise delivered over twelve sessions. The ESCAPE-pain programme was originally developed by Professor Mike Hurley [1] with funding from Arthritis Research UK (now Versus Arthritis).…

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Health and Wellbeing Resources Pack for local health and care systems

by Michael Ly, Health Intelligence Manager, Versus Arthritis

In January 2019, NHS England published the NHS Long Term Plan, outlining its vision to improve the health and wellbeing of people over the next 10 years. Central to this vision is a commitment to designing and delivering services that are more joined-up, tailored and community-based to meet the needs of local people, including those who face health inequalities.

To do this effectively, the Long Term Plan recognises that local health and care systems will need to work in partnership with communities and charities to understand the health and care needs of their local population.…

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Putting musculoskeletal conditions in the NHS health check at 40?

Following initial policy direction in the Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s green paper in July, on Friday 16 August the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock announced an evidence-based review into the NHS Health Check service. Alongside suggestions that checks are personalised in future, the review will consider ‘increasing the range of advice the checks can offer – for example, prevention of musculoskeletal problems’. This is a brilliant opportunity to make sure that people are routinely asked about the health of their muscles, bones and joints at 40 years of age, and are provided with advice to support their musculoskeletal health.…

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Alisa Bosworth steps down as CEO from NRAS

Charity Founder, Ailsa Bosworth MBE steps down after 18 years as CEO of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to take on a new role as National Patient Champion for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) announced that Ailsa Bosworth MBE, the charity’s Founder and CEO stepped down as CEO at the organisation’s AGM on 26 June and took on a new role as National Patient Champion. Clare Jacklin, who worked with Ailsa Bosworth for the last 12 years, took over as CEO from 27 June 2019.…

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Prevention in the 2020s: what it means for axial SpA

NASS logoby Jill Hamilton, Professional Engagement Manager, National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society

On 22 July 2019, the government quietly published their green paper Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s. There has been a lot of commentary in the media, although it has been hugely overshadowed by activity in Westminster and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

What is a green paper?

A green paper is a consultation document. This means that this isn’t the final version and so people both inside and outside parliament are able to comment on policies being proposed.…

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State of Musculoskeletal Health 2019

by Sophia Steinberger, Health Intelligence Analyst and Jonathan Canty, Policy Officer, Versus Arthritis

How many people have musculoskeletal conditions in the UK? How are these conditions affecting their lives? What is the breakdown by age, gender, and condition? What is the impact of MSK conditions on work, health services, and the wider economy?

This month Versus Arthritis published the annual State of Musculoskeletal Health 2019 to help answer these questions and many more. The report presents a collection of the best available data on the prevalence, risk factors, comorbidities, and impact of MSK conditions in the UK, to help further the understanding about the people living with and affected by these conditions.…

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2020 MSK Champions

by Jonathan Canty, Policy Officer, Versus Arthritis

The second cohort of MSK Champions at Versus Arthritis has started their 18-month leadership development programme at the well renowned Ashridge business school. Through the skills acquired on the programme, mentorship and a multi-disciplinary network of peers, the Champions will be supported and coached to drive forward a local service-improvement project to improve MSK health care provisions in their local area.

“It has already given the confidence to face difficult situations that potentially stand in the way of improving care.…

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Prevention and primary care: opportunities we must all engage

Two things happened in July which will be significant for MSK services: the publication of the Prevention Green Paper Advancing Our Health, and the creation of over 1,200 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across England. ARMA will be supporting members to engage with the Green Paper and to ensure PCNs deliver what is needed for MSK. We hope all our newsletter readers will get involved too.

I was pleased to see that Advancing Our Health gives plenty of profile to MSK.…

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Call on sex- and gender-related research projects in RMDs

The Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (FOREUM) launches a new study.

FOREUM considers studies on sex- and gender-related issues of key importance as they may help to better understand the pathogenesis of rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases as well as to better interpret peoples’ clinical presentation and disease course. The grant aims at instigating research, which improves our knowledge on the influence of gender on pathogenesis, clinical presentation and disease course of RMDs.

Letters of intent can be submitted until 10 September 2019.…

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Moving matters

Interventions to increase physical activity

We know that keeping active is important for maintaining MSK health. The challenge is always how to encourage people to be more active. This themed review from NIHR provides some evidence about what works (and what doesn’t).

The review outlines evidence from over 50 studies of what is effective in getting people more active. Evaluations range from programmes in schools and communities to changes in transport and the environment, which are designed to promote greater activity.…

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