Arthritis News & Musculoskeletal News from ARMA's Members

Versus Arthritis webinars: MSK Bitesize

MSK Bitesize is a 3-hour webinar on MSK conditions that can present in primary care and the role of physical activity in preventing and managing MSK conditions. Topics include inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and more.

Upcoming dates:
Versus Arthritis webinar: MSK Bitesize, Thursday 23rd October 2025 6-9pm, £60.

Versus Arthritis webinar: MSK Bitesize, Wednesday 10^th December 2025 6-9pm, £60.

See further details of training courses for healthcare professionals from the Versus Arthritis website.

Core Skills in MSK Care – Sheffield

Core Skills is a practical programme designed to equip primary healthcare professionals with the confidence and expertise to accurately diagnose and manage MSK conditions. This training from Versus Arthritis provides delegates a supportive environment to develop confidence and skills in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with MSK conditions.

Previous delegates reported a 47% increase in knowledge of the subject area following the training, a 30% increase in examination skills and a 31% increase in confidence diagnosing and treating patients with MSK conditions.…

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Cut to the Bone campaign

Versus Arthritis launches #CutToTheBone campaign in response to benefit cuts

Versus Arthritis has launched their #CutToTheBone campaign, urging MPs to vote against £5bn of benefit cuts tabled by the Government to encourage people into work. Among these changes, the stricter eligibility criteria to qualify for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be the most devastating. PIP helps over 200,000 people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions across the UK lead fulfilling, independent lives. By taking away the money needed to cover the necessities of daily living, the Government is working against disabled people, not for them.…

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The AI Conference 2025

Registration is now open for the the BOA’s 2025 Conference – AI in Orthopaedics: Shaping the Future of Musculoskeletal Medicine.

It will take place on Monday 1^st and Tuesday 2^nd December 2025 at 10 Union Street, London. You can expect live demonstrations, cutting-edge research presentations, expert panels, hands-on workshops and visionary keynote speakers.

Read and download the programme here.

For more details visit the AI in Orthopaedics and MSK conference webpage.

Celebrating One Year of Impact: Act Now Report on MSK Health Inequalities

ARMA is proud to mark the one-year anniversary of the Act Now report on MSK health inequalities and deprivation. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve released a new Impact Report showcasing the reach and influence the original report has had over the past year.

The Impact Report was launched at a reception held at The King’s Fund in London. ARMA members and MSK professionals gathered to reflect on the progress inspired by Act Now and to look ahead at what’s next including the launch of the new MSK Inequalities Community of Practice.…

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Sadness and Pride

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

This will be my last blog for this newsletter as I step down from the CEO role. Inevitably I’m reflecting on how things have changed in the over 8 years I’ve been in the role.

The position of MSK in NHS England and NHS Wales is stronger. In England we now have a co-ordinated workstream under GIRFT delivering across the spectrum of MSK – children and adults, primary, secondary and community, all MSK conditions. The resource is nothing like other NHS England programmes such as diabetes or cancer.…

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Versus Arthritis Work Adjustment Plan

Designed to help people with arthritis address work-related barriers and self-manage their condition in work

Versus Arthritis is aware that working with arthritis can be challenging, with a disability employment gap of 20% for those living with arthritis compared to those without arthritis.

Versus Arthritis surveys and research in partnership with CMHW offered an insight into what could make a difference to work outcomes for people living with the condition.

As a result of these findings, the information on the work area of the Versus Arthritis website has been updated.…

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NRAS Exclusive Webinar on Supported Self-Management

NRAS invites healthcare professionals to exclusive webinar on supported self-management.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar designed to empower healthcare professionals with tools and insights for supported self-management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). These webinars will provide an overview of NRAS’s key services and resources, aimed at enhancing patient care and professional practice.

Webinar Details:
7th July 2025, 1pm: Hosted by Ailsa Bosworth, MBE

The session will last approximately 45 minutes and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn about NRAS’s free services.…

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NRAS Live – RA, Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Rheumatoid Arthritis doesn’t just affect your joints — it can impact your bones too. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Deborah Nelson, Osteoporosis Specialist Nurse at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and Peter Foxton, CEO of NRAS on Wednesday, 28th May 2025 at 7pm.

They will be talking about the link between RA & Osteoporosis, risk factors to watch out for, lifestyle tips for stronger bones and how osteoporosis is detected & treated. To find out more information on the Royal Osteoporosis Society, please visit their website.…

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getUBetter proves a vital partner in supporting MSK waiting lists

As NHS services continue to navigate rising demand and resource challenges, getUBetter is proving to be a vital partner in enhancing MSK care and turning passive waiting lists into active ones. Recently deployed across Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (NHFT) as part of the national Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK improvement programme, the getUBetter app is already making an immediate impact.

In collaboration with NHFT’s MSK Physiotherapy team, getUBetter delivered a bespoke, fully branded digital self-management solution within only 4 weeks.…

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