Author: Garreth

Good Boost and NRAS

NRAS has been working with the social enterprise Good Boost, who champion the phrase “Move More, Have Fun, Feel Better.” Their mission is to create more affordable and accessible options for MSK community health services, and they use technology at the forefront for change.

With growing numbers of physiotherapy and joint surgery appointments postponed due to Covid-19, their team of physiotherapists, osteopaths, MSK researchers, software engineers and AI specialists recognised the need for solutions providing personalised support at home.…

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What questions would you like to see answered by psoriatic arthritis research?

The British Psoriatic Arthritis Consortium is working with the James Lind Alliance to run a priority setting partnership (PSP). The aim is to create a national top-10 list of research priorities for psoriatic arthritis. They want ideas and thoughts from people with different experiences and backgrounds: those with psoriatic arthritis, their families, carers and clinicians.

The survey has now been open for two months and 228 surveys have been completed. You can read information on who has completed the survey so far in the survey’s update document.…

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Changes to shielding guidance

The shielding guidance has changed so that from 1 June 2020 people who are shielding are advised that they may go outside once per day following strict social distancing. No other aspect of the guidance has changed, so people are still advised that they should remain 2 metres away from other members of their household, minimise the time spent in shared spaces, etc. Some people with MSK conditions are shielding, either because of the combination of medication they are taking or because they have other conditions that make them extremely vulnerable.…

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Stay alert to stay safe

PHE has updated their public messaging to convey the latest advice from the Government regarding coronavirus. The new posters display the key messages for the ‘Stay Alert’ phase, containing official guidance relating to social distancing in specific settings:

  • At home
  • Travelling to work
  • At work
  • Whilst exercising
  • Whilst shopping
  • In transport hubs (in train stations, underground stations etc.)

Other messaging includes:

  • Detailed handwashing guidance
  • Hand hygiene
  • ‘R’ rate

Here are the latest posters and imagery designed for dissemination on Social media.…

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Every Mind Matters: sleep struggles during lockdown

New campaign to help those with sleep struggles during lockdown

Mental Health Awareness Week took place from 18-24 May 2020. To mark the event, Public Health England launched new advice on its ‘Every Mind Matters’ platform to help people improve their sleep. It comes as new data from Public Health England shows that more than four in 10 (41%) 1 Brits are experiencing more sleep problems than usual, with over half of 16-29-year olds (52%) 2 the most likely to be affected.…

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Challenges and collaboration – progress for MSK in 2020

Alongside the pain and misery of the Covid-19 pandemic there have also been some beneficial side effects – quiet streets and skies, birdsong, less pollution. This is also true in the world of MSK. ARMA has been a champion for the NHS Change Challenge, a project to identify the new and innovative ways of working that have been rapidly developed across the NHS and to ensure beneficial changes are captured and locked in. I think it is no accident that NHS Improvement chose to pilot this in MSK.…

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SOMM’s scheduled courses

SOMM’s next Foundation course is due to be held in London in September, and all courses following are still scheduled to take place at the moment. The Society is keeping a close eye on advice as the lockdown eases.

MSc Musculoskeletal Medicine

The good news is that the next run of the MSc Musculoskeletal Medicine has been confirmed as definitely going ahead as planned this year. Induction will take place during the week beginning 7 September 2020 but will now be conducted remotely.…

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The changing landscape of orthopaedic services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Guest blog by

Cormac Kelly, Consultant Upper Limb Surgeon at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

and

Peter Kay, National Orthopaedic Alliance (NOA) Lead Clinician and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the delivery of planned orthopaedic surgery drastically. As the pandemic continues to subside, the NHS, with various guidance from Public Health England, Medical and Surgical Colleges, the British Orthopaedic Association, and others, is working on a plan to get surgery back on track.…

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Moving Medicine wins Patient Care Award

Moving Medicine, an innovative online tool designed for healthcare professionals to promote and support their patients to get more active, has been awarded the patient-centred care award at the Royal College of Physicians’ Excellence in Patient Care Awards 2020.

The Moving Medicine tool has specific modules for key common conditions: cancer, depression, MSK pain, COPD.

Never before has physical activity had such an essential role to play in the treatment and prevention of disease as the nation recovers from COVID19.…

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