Category: Arthritis News

New Pregnancy Questionnaire Tool

Overcoming concerns and identifying those who should seek medical advice before exercise

The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy identifies the small number of individuals who should seek medical advice as a first step to becoming or continuing to be physically active during pregnancy, and to help the majority of healthy pregnant individuals overcome any concerns they have with getting or staying active.

Sport Rehabilitator Marlize De Vivo collaborated with this effort which recognises the importance of continued physical activity and acknowledges the role of healthcare and qualified exercise professionals in facilitating an active pregnancy:

“Is it safe for me?…

Read more of this article

GIRFT pathway for Cauda Equina Syndrome

GIRFT logoPathway supports clinicians to diagnose and treat Cauda Equina Syndrome without delay.

A new pathway helping clinicians to better diagnose and care for patients with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is now available from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) team.

GIRFT worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary group of more than 60 healthcare professionals to develop the interactive pathway, designed to support teams to diagnose and treat the condition without delay. It offers best practice along all stages of the pathway, from presentation to GP or in the community through to post-operative care.…

Read more of this article

Musculoskeletal health hub pilot expanding

Musculoskeletal health hub pilot expands to 100 sites as MSK cost to UK hits £5bn a year

The second phase of the UK’s MSK health hub pilot will see the service rolled out to an additional 85 swimming pools and leisure centres from February 2023.

The scheme – a collaboration between UK Active, Good Boost, Orthopaedic Research UK, Escape Pain and Arthritis Action – launched last year across 15 sites to support individuals suffering from musculoskeletal health problems. As well as a presence in physical locations, it also provides users with access to a tablet and app for customised guidance and at-home support.…

Read more of this article

Good Boost for Health in Wales

Newport Live has become the first leisure provider in Wales to deliver the Good Boost programme to help people with musculoskeletal conditions be more active and sociable.

The programme follows funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Healthy Ageing Challenge. Newport Live is taking a leading role in a two-year research project examining how leisure centres & facilities may be transformed into musculoskeletal (MSK) hubs within the community.

The charitable trust will be the leisure provider in charge of delivering sessions that seek to improve people’s lives by getting them moving with gentle water and land-based exercise in a fun and social environment.…

Read more of this article

Versus Arthritis Physical Activity Conversations Survey

Versus ArthritisLondon Met UniVersus Arthritis is working with London Metropolitan University to understand more about the conversations healthcare professionals have with their patients around physical activity, their confidence and knowledge in this subject, and how frequently they discuss the benefits of being active in their appointments. If you are a healthcare professional, could you please spare just five minutes to complete a short survey to share your experiences.

The findings will be really valuable to Versus Arthritis, helping to tailor support and information for healthcare professionals where it’s needed.…

Read more of this article

Osteopathy Convention 2023 – Register your interest

Plans are well underway for the Convention 2023. This is an international collaborative event with the University College of Osteopathy, the Osteopathic International Alliance, the National Council for Osteopathic Research, the European Federation & Forum for Osteopathy, the General Osteopathic Council and the Institute of Osteopathy.

An international celebration of the
recognition of Osteopathy

20 – 21 October 2023
London, United Kingdom

Delivering and developing excellence in osteopathic healthcare

The Convention will be held under the theme ‘Delivering and developing excellence in osteopathic healthcare’, at the Radisson RED™ London Heathrow Hotel, with workshops and presentations covering education, clinical practice and research.…

Read more of this article

ARMA to launch MSK equalities project

ARMA logoOver 20 million people in the UK experience musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as chronic musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. But these do not affect the population equally. Women, older people, those living in deprivation, and some ethnic groups are disproportionately affected in terms of prevalence and impact. In addition, those with MSK conditions experience inequalities when it comes to accessing services and in outcomes.

Our ambition is to reduce these health equalities and ensure everyone can access the highest quality health and care, regardless of their background or where they live.…

Read more of this article

Opportunity to be involved in MSK impact research

Research project: The Psychological, Social, and Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Researchers in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London are looking to set up an advisory group of people with lived experience of musculoskeletal conditions, for a project exploring the challenges facing people with these conditions, such as family, ability to work, and quality of life. The advisory group will help the research team refine research questions and interpret findings. The commitment involves attending 5-6 online meetings (1-2 hours each) over the course of the two-year project, with a small amount of reading and preparation for each meeting.…

Read more of this article

Pain consultations during the pandemic

Pain Concern is pleased to announce that the new edition of the Airing Pain podcast will be released on 22/02/2023:

Airing Pain #134 Pain Consultations during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Lessons Learnt.

Watch the trailer.

This edition of Airing Pain examines how COVID-19 has impacted on the relationship between patient and healthcare professional. 

In the two or so years of living with COVID-19, the face-to-face relationship between doctors and patients was one of the first casualties. With restrictions relaxed, have we returned to the status quo, or has what was developed at breakneck speed led to new working practices?  …

Read more of this article

ESCAPE-pain part of framework to reduce community MSK waits

In January 2023, NHS England published “an improvement framework to reduce community musculoskeletal waits while delivering best outcomes and experience”.

Integrated high quality community musculoskeletal (MSK) services are integral to a productive, high-performing healthcare system supporting the management of MSK conditions. Most people with MSK conditions can be diagnosed and well managed in the community through programmes like ESCAPE-pain.

A smaller number require timely referral to secondary care orthopaedic, rheumatology, spinal or pain management services to enable best outcomes.

Most community MSK services have a triage function to support diagnosis and optimise referrals, and/or a therapies function to rehabilitate those who have sustained an injury or are recovering from surgery, as well as to help people best manage long-term MSK conditions.…

Read more of this article