2021 has been a year of progress for ARMA and for MSK. We know that all our readers will be feeling exhausted. This has been a tough year for anyone working in health. It has also been the year when MSK began to get the profile it deserves with the new Best MSK Health programme in England and development of a new MSK Framework and clinical leads in Wales. We all know that we need to do things differently, that the pandemic has only made worse those problems that already existed.…
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MSK & Arthritis News
Goodboost recognized in Fit For Life Awards
In 2021, the Fit for Life Foundation Awards recognized GoodBoost alongside two other organisations that embody an innovative and impactful approach to improving the health and fitness of older people.
GoodBoost were cited for their creation of personalized exercise tools, and praised for combining their clinical knowledge with technology to create affordable and easy-to-use water-based exercises.
These exercises, associated with Swim England’s Water Wellbeing programme, are to be expanded to more pools across the country after an independent health-economic analysis has shown that each pool delivering Good Boost creates more than £90,000 of health savings through reduced appointments and health procedures.…
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National Voices Timely Access to Care
A new publication from National Voices Timely access to care: Principles for recovery argues for an inclusive, equitable and person-centred recovery, focusing on the whole person, in the context of their lives, and the whole system, and the context within which it is operating. There are three sets of recommendations: one for government and system leaders, one for people planning and delivering services and one for the VCSE.
Access the document here.
NICE quality standard on joint replacement
The draft NICE joint replacement quality standard consultation is now open:
Joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder
Comments can be submitted on the NICE website by 13 December 2021.
Expected publication date: 29 March 2022.
Psoriasis Association’s Facebook Live sessions
New videos of Facebook Live sessions on psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and lifestyle now available
The Psoriasis Association is delighted to bring you recordings from the two Facebook Live sessions that we held during Psoriasis Awareness Week 2021. The videos feature information and advice from experts in nutrition and exercise, based on this year’s Psoriasis Awareness Week theme – lifestyle factors that may be important to consider when living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis – including diet and exercise.
The first video ‘Pso: Let’s Talk Food’ sees Consultant Dermatologist and nutrition expert, Dr Thiviyani Maruthappu, and Professor of Health Psychology/Behavioural Medicine at Cardiff University, Professor Christine Bundy, examine the evidence for nutrition in psoriasis.…
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Pain Forecast survey
In 2016, the Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis at the University of Manchester ran a large study, collecting data about people’s symptoms and comparing this to the weather.
Using this data, the researchers are now aiming to build a pain forecast. This will be like a weather forecast but used for predicting pain severity in the near future. Being able to forecast pain severity in this way will provide benefits for patients in the future.
In this second phase, a survey will ask people with chronic pain what information that they would be interested in receiving about pain severity.…
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NASS driving service improvements
New report sheds light on game-changing innovations in axial SpA care
The report, Driving Improvements in Axial SpA Services: Building Foundations through Aspiring to Excellence was produced and published by the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS), and launched on 22 October 2021. This is the first detailed account of service improvement projects undertaken by rheumatology teams across the UK as part of the Aspiring to Excellence programme.
Every team on the programme is working on a project that will improve diagnosis, treatment and care for patients with axial SpA.…
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SMILE-RA introductory video
SMILE-RA is a unique and engaging e-learning experience for people with RA and their families who want to understand more about RA, its treatments and how to support their loved one. SMILE-RA has a modular approach to learning, so each module is on a particular theme or subject and takes between 20 mins and half an hour to complete.
There is an intuitive interface which makes it easy to use and navigate around. After registering and completing the Foundation module which includes baseline evaluation questions, users can then direct their own learning experience and choose whichever modules are of interest to explore next.…
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Relaunched Managing JIA in School booklet
On World Arthritis Day, JIA-at-NRAS relaunched their Managing JIA in School booklet. The update provides information on all aspects of education and is a useful resource for parents, teachers and for the child themselves. There is more information about how to inform the school about your child’s JIA, individual health care plan, tips for teachers and children and how to manage flares in school.
There are also a range of articles aimed at improving the experience of going through school with JIA, with helpful information on a range of aspects of school life, including completing an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) and covering letter to the school, coping with exam stress and minimising the effect of heavy school bags on the joints.…
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Arthritis Action seeks trustees
Arthritis Action is looking for trustees with access to an established professional network, who can advise their growing organisation and support the delivery of their exciting new strategy.
They welcome new trustees with expertise in marketing & communications, fundraising & income generation, strategic planning, human resources, legal.
Arthritis Action would especially like to hear from individuals from under-represented or diverse groups.
Download the Trustee Recruitment Pack [opens PDF].
To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to shantel@arthritisaction.org.uk.
Interviews will take place as applications are received.