Arthritis News & Musculoskeletal News from ARMA's Members

Launch of Key Report into Health Benefits of MSK Hubs

Transforming gyms into community Musculoskeletal (MSK) Hubs offers hope to millions in pain.

Arthritis Action are pleased to announce the publication of the report “Transforming Gyms into Community Musculoskeletal (MSK) Hubs” in partnership with ukactive, Good Boost, Orthopaedic Research UK and ESCAPE-pain.

The report highlights the findings from a two-year pilot project established to investigate the feasibility of using gyms and leisure centres to support people to manage their MSK conditions with exercise in a community-based setting. Researchers found that 44% of participants reported a noticeable improvement in the pain management of their condition, after attending the sessions for 12 weeks.…

Read more of this article

Exciting opportunity for MSK innovators

Applications are now open for this year’s MSK Innovation Accelerator programme, hosted by MedTech SuperConnector. The programme, which is supported by ORUK, was successfully piloted last year. It is designed to accelerate the development of musculoskeletal innovation and thereby create and scale early-stage MSK ventures across the UK. It involves a 6-month intensive learning journey, providing participants with entrepreneurship training, masterclasses and access to expertise. The accelerator learning content is part-time.

The MSK Innovation Accelerator programme is open to MSK related Innovations at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or above from research fellows, postdocs & late-stage PhD candidates, or innovators from Academic Research Centres, small to medium size enterprises with research laboratories, or clinical institutes with a medical technology in development in the lab or digital environment.…

Read more of this article

New report on innovation in MSK health

The NIHR Innovation Observatory has undertaken a global horizon scan, supported by ORUK, to identify emerging MSK medical and digital health and care technologies with the potential to reduce the occurrence of MSK conditions, improve health outcomes and provide efficiencies within delivery of health and care services for people with poor MSK conditions.

It is anticipated that the research findings will be used to highlight early-stage technological innovations to prevent and manage MSK conditions and identify areas of unmet need. The report includes a breakdown of 109 innovative technologies (either regulated medical devices or digital interventions.…

Read more of this article

Lupus Awareness Month 2024

October is Lupus Awareness Month in the UK, which plays a crucial role in increasing awareness and understanding of this chronic condition. The LUPUS UK campaign this year is #ThisIsLupus, which aims to raise awareness of lupus as a ‘dynamic disability,’ where an individual’s symptoms can vary in severity and impact over time. We also aim to highlight the unique experiences of those with lupus, as no two people share the same story.

During the month of October, LUPUS UK will be featuring lots of members of their community on social media platforms using the hashtags #ThisIsLupus and #LupusAwarenessMonth to raise awareness.…

Read more of this article

Sport Rehabilitator at the Paris Olympics

Samantha Parsons, BASRaT registered Sport Rehabilitator and Director of Arch Health and Fitness in Kew played a key role in supporting GB tennis in Paris.

Sam has shared her rehab story with BASRat, including the preparation, day-to-day tasks, heat management, food and those infamous cardboard beds!

Samantha is pictured here with GB tennis stars Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury, who have nine Grand Slam doubles titles between them.

Read the full story here.

Over to you Prime Minister

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

After two days in Belfast launching the ARMA MSK Health Inequalities report in Northern Ireland, I found myself on the plane back to England drafting the ARMA response to the Darzi report. I don’t think there are any new revelations in the report. Yet I do think it is important, and something everyone concerned about MSK health should take seriously. I recognise the truth in what it says.

Lord Darzi was asked to carry out an independent investigation into the NHS in England with a very short timescale.…

Read more of this article

New NHS Resource for adults with chronic primary pain

NHS England has published a new decision support tool – Making decisions to help you live well with chronic primary pain.

The resource is intended as a decision aid for people aged 16 years and over with chronic primary pain to help you think about what options you might like to consider to help you live well with pain.

You can find the decision support tool here.

EULAR launches the Edgar Stene Prize Competition 2025

EULAR PARE has announced the launch of the EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition 2025 on the topic: “Growing up with an RMD – learning, transitioning from paediatrics and the impacts on childhood and the family”.

The competition is open to people aged 18 and over living with rheumatic and MSK diseases (RMDs) who were diagnosed with an RMD during childhood to participate and write about their personal experiences on the competition topic.

In addition, for 2025, parents of children living with RMDs are also invited to participate.…

Read more of this article

ARMA welcomes new Chair

Following elections at the recent AGM, ARMA welcomed a new Chair of our board of trustees.

Speaking about his new role, ARMA Chair Chris Martey said: “I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Chair in this pivotal time for the charity, where it’s work, reach and impact is going from strength to strength. It is a privilege to be taking over the mantle from Dirk, having worked closely alongside him as Vice-Chair during the last year of his tenure.…

Read more of this article

ARMA response to the Darzi report

12/9/24

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) welcomes the publication of the Darzi report recognising the serious and widespread problems in the NHS. In particular we welcome the recognition of the need for an increased focus on community services and prevention.

As Lord Darzi recognises in his report, Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are one of the biggest causes of people being unable to work due to ill health in the UK. A significant proportion of this MSK ill health is preventable and community MSK services are vital to supporting all those with MSK conditions.…

Read more of this article