MSK & Arthritis News

New venue for SOMM Foundation in MSK Medicine

The Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) has added a new host to its venue portfolio – Perth Royal Infirmary.

The hospital will host the SOMM Foundation in Musculoskeletal Medicine Module, Unit 1 in October/November 2024.

This 4-day Unit covers the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand. The unit is highly practical and combines this with theory lectures, clinical reasoning, and a review of functional anatomy. Read more

Due to demand, an additional THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INJECTION THERAPY module has been added to the course programme this year, in Liverpool this September. …

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Engaging with NASS, my national RMD organisation…

…how it enriched and changed the quality of my life.

Guest blog from EULAR Edgar Stene Prize essay competition entrant, Geoff Lindsay.

I’ve lived with axial Spa for 50 years.

November 1973. I’m 24. Every time I put on my tight bell-bottom Levi jeans I got bad pain in my left hip. Am I going crazy? How can wearing jeans give me a pain so bad I can hardly walk?  Walking up stairs is very painful. Stepping up a kerb is a task I would limp another twenty metres to avoid.…

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Bridging the Gap Report

We Are Undefeatable has launched the report from Big Talk, a public consultation which went live last year. Read more about their report "Bridging the gap: understanding how to support people with long term health conditions to become more physically active".

The report covers:

  • The motivators and barriers that people living with long term health conditions face being active
  • Why the NHS is only a starting point for people with health conditions to become more active
  • How the ‘empathy gap’ may be hindering support for people with health conditions
  • The pivotal role that health charities can and must play in supporting physical activity
  • What friends, families and professionals need to feel more confident encouraging physical activity
  • Why local leadership and coordination is a critical enabler
  • The views of professionals across a range of sectors

The report outlines the actions We Are Undefeatable is already taking in response to these insights.…

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Creating your AS flare toolkit

Most people with axial SpA tend to have times of flare and times when their symptoms are more manageable or settled. A flare can include an increase in pain and joint stiffness, either local or generally.

online meetingFind tools to help you to feel more in control and prepare for axial SpA flares with the NASS axial SpA online peer support meeting on 4 June 2024 at 6pm.

Join this friendly online meeting to:

  • Find tools to help you prepare for flares and create your flare toolkit
  • Get advice to reduce the impact a flare has on you
  • Connect with other people with axial SpA
  • Share your experiences
  • Ask the NASS team any questions you may have

Book via this link.…

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Act Now Report Parliamentary Launch Event

Act Now report segmentLast week ARMA held a Parliamentary launch for the Act Now report on MSK inequalities.

We were delighted to be joined by so many members, contributors to the report and leaders in MSK. There was a palpable energy in the room and a sense of commitment across the breadth of MSK health to tackle inequalities together.

We were privileged to have MP Tom Randall, Chair of the Axial Spondyloarthritis All Party Group in Westminster, host the event. His recognition of the report’s timeliness underscored the importance of the report’s recommendations.…

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Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures – CPD webinar

On Thursday, 25 April 2024, 4-5pm the Institute of Osteopathy is hosting a webinar on Osteoporosis and fragility fractures from its series of educational CPD webinars.

Register now to join iO Professional Development Manager, Daniel McCarthy, as he guides you through everything you need to know about the condition along with some interesting case studies. Healthcare practitioners can book attendance to this webinar for £10 (iO Members can attend for free). 

Find out more from the iosteopathy.org news page.

New National Clinical Director

NHS England has appointed Dr Lesley Kay as the National Clinical Director (NCD) for Musculoskeletal.

Lesley brings a wealth of experience to the NCD role as a Consultant rheumatologist at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT, former Chair of the British Society for Rheumatology Clinical Affairs Committee and as the former GIRFT Clinical Lead for Rheumatology.

Outgoing NCD Andy Bennett will be taking on a new role with GIRFT as Clinical Advisor focussing on community MSK services.

We wish them both the very best of luck and look forward to continuing to work with them closely in their new roles.

Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care course – Glasgow

This one day course will be split into three main sections covering low back pain and sciatica, lower limb and upper limb. The course has been designed by GPs primarily for GPs and GP Trainees but is also beneficial for other primary healthcare professionals such as Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists and Physiotherapists who support patients with MSK conditions.

  • Wednesday 3rd July 9-5pm
  • The Studio, Glasgow
  • £165

Find more information and the learning outcomes from the Versus Arthritis Training courses page.

Personalised Medicine and Empowered Pain Relief 

Edition 143 of Airing Pain focuses on the treatment of pain, the importance of catering treatment to a person’s individual genetic makeup, and why addressing the psychological dimensions of pain is crucial in treating it effectively.  

The process of finding a medication or treatment that works for a person often involves a lot of trial and error, which can be a frustrating process for someone to go through. This process can be side-stepped through the use of personalised medicine, where information about a person’s genetic makeup is used to tailor and optimise their treatment so it is as effective as possible.  …

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Financial Boost for MSK Early Career Researchers

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) has received an award of over £750,000 from the Government to support its research programme. This funding will enable the charity to increase support for early-career clinical researchers and academic scientists interested in building and expanding their MSK research portfolio.

ORUK supports early-career researchers working on a wide range of MSK-related research projects across the UK and has invested £13.59m in the past two decades on research projects that expand knowledge, improve patient outcomes and pioneer new forms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management.…

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