MSK & Arthritis News

More than Skin Deep report

report coverA new report More than Skin Deep: The Underlying Burdens of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis has been published, setting out the challenges currently faced by people living with these chronic, interlinked conditions, and providing a number of key recommendations for improving services.

The report, aimed at policymakers, healthcare professionals and NHS commissioners, has been informed by the input of an expert working group, including leading clinicians from dermatology and rheumatology, as well as representatives from the Psoriasis Association and Versus Arthritis.…

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MSK physiotherapy service standards 

CSP publishes new UK-wide Musculoskeletal physiotherapy service standards

In January 2022 a new set of Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy service standards were launched by the CSP. The standards focus on the delivery of physiotherapy for any services managing MSK conditions within any part of the MSK pathway in the UK. They are applicable in any setting, for adults of 16 years and over, requiring physiotherapy for a MSK condition, their families and carers, and across multidisciplinary integrated care.  

The eight standards and accompanying quality measures are intended as a tool for services to demonstrate the value of MSK physiotherapy services as part of the whole MSK pathway, with the aim to drive continuous quality improvement.  …

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AI, data and the future of orthopaedics

Dr Arash Angadji photoGuest blog by Dr Arash Angadji, Chief Executive, Orthopaedic Research UK

I was talking to a PhD student who has recently received one of our fellowship grants to research the use of statistical modelling to help better predict patient outcomes, who told me, ‘I am part of that generation that has grown up with computers, so It feels natural to ask how we can we exploit this technology. We are all getting more on board with the idea of smart technology and wearable devices and questioning why we are not applying these technologies to our patients.’…

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MELODY – Investigating COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised people

A new national trial is recruiting people with rare autoimmune diseases to measure their COVID-19 antibody response following at least 3 vaccinations.

The MELODY study is recruiting immunocompromised people to determine the antibody levels they develop in response to COVID-19 vaccination.

The MELODY study aims to:

  1. Assess how many immunocompromised people have detectable antibodies against COVID-19 following at least 3 vaccines;
  2. Investigate whether a lack of detectable antibodies is associated with risk of infection over a 6-month period;
  3. Investigate what factors are associated with lack of detectable antibodies in immunocompromised people.
…

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Are you a champion in primary care?

NASS bannerNASS is calling for first contact practitioners, GPs, community MSK physiotherapists and other NHS primary and community care professionals to apply for the opportunity to join their brand-new Champions in Primary Care programme. 

Successful applicants will work together with NASS to help end diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA). Those selected to join the two-year development programme will receive leadership development support, training in the theory and methods of quality improvement and assistance with identifying and implementing improvement projects which they will test and refine.…

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Guest blog: No pain, no gain?

Ben WilkinsLooking differently at leisure places as spaces for chronic pain management

by Ben Wilkins, CEO, Good Boost

15.5 million people in England live with chronic pain. Approximately 5.5 million (12% of the population) have high-impact chronic pain, where pain makes it an on-going challenge to take part in daily activities (Versus Arthritis, 2021). The main contributing factor for 8-in-10 people living with chronic pain are musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, back and neck pain. For people living with this, it’s not just a ‘ache in your back’ or a ‘twinge in your knee’, it’s an unrelenting and all-consuming part of everyday life.…

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Diploma in MSK Medicine exam

Registration is now open for the second sitting of FSEM’s Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine exam, aimed at doctors and allied health professionals looking to evidence their competency across the breadth of MSK care.

Developed jointly by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK) and the Primary Care Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine Society (PCRMM), the examination and associated qualification recognises excellence in MSK care and provides a benchmark of quality for both service commissioners and patients.

This Diploma will support evidencing competency as a GP or GP Working in Extended Role, as well as allied health professionals working towards advanced practice roles (including first contact practitioner and advanced practitioners in primary care) in a range of community settings.…

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Learning to live with the virus – collectively

As Plan B ends in England and the other nations in the UK remove different aspects of COVID protections, the news is all of learning to live with the virus and getting back to normal. For very many people with MSK conditions this is not the experience. Whether it is people facing long waits for treatment or people taking medication that puts them at increased risk, living with the virus and its consequences is harder for some.

As Plan B ends, ARMA members’ helplines are again flooded with calls from people who are immunosuppressed, worried about their needs being forgotten again.…

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The changing healthcare landscape

In her most recent blog about the changes in the healthcare landscape caused by the pandemic, our National Patient Champion, Ailsa Bosworth MBE reflects on how these changes will impact on the care of people with RA and Adult JIA.  She considers how it has become even more important for those with these autoimmune conditions to be able to learn about their disease and acquire skills and coping strategies to enable better supported self-management, and Ailsa explains how NRAS can help with this.…

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Upcoming MSK and sports medicine events at the RSM

The Royal Society of Medicine have a number of upcoming events. All events have an online option.

Musculoskeletal examination masterclass

Date: Monday 28 February 2022
Time: 9:00am to 5:20pm GMT

RSM Members: £30.00-£96.00 
Non-members: £55.00-£176.00

Register for live stream
(in-person event is cancelled)

This will be an exciting world-class conference in the fundamental examination of the musculoskeletal system as part of the patient or athlete. Join this popular annual masterclass for the opportunity to learn from specialists about the key elements of the musculoskeletal examination.…

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