Category: Arthritis News

Seasonal Insertional Heel Pain – a matter of overuse

by Andrew Coutts. BSc Hons, MSc, FCPodS, Specialist Registrar in Podiatric Surgery, Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust

One of the most common questions I get asked by patients, colleagues and friends is – ‘how do I get rid of my heel pain?’ I see many patients with plantar fasciitis symptoms, insertional Achilles tendonosis and other causes of heel pain, such as retrocalcaneal bursitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, fat pad atrophy and Sever’s Disease, however every year I see an increase in referrals specifically around February, March and April time [1].…

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BOA Statements, October 2020

BOA statement on preserving elective operating wherever possible in second wave (15 Oct 2020).

BOA statement about orthopaedic ring-fenced beds (released 19 Oct 2020).

BOA Annual Congress 2021 – Save the Date!
Taking place 21-24 September 2021, the BOA Annual Congress programme will be created around the theme of ‘Tackling Infection’, with four days of lectures including three days of exhibition being held for the first time at P&J Live, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA). Further information regarding abstracts, programme, speakers, location and more will be on the BOA website in the upcoming months.…

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Survey on the effects of COVID-19 and lockdown

Around half of those with arthritis report increased pain during the pandemic
With over half finding it more difficult to access healthcare

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 42% of people living with arthritis reported that their pain has increased [1] according to a survey by UK Charity Arthritis Action looking at the effects of COVID-19 and lockdown on the daily lives of people with arthritis. Considering there are over 10 million people living with some form of arthritis in the UK [i] this would equate to over 4 million people experiencing increased arthritis pain during the ongoing pandemic.…

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Psoriasis Awareness Week 29 Oct – 4 November 2020

This year’s Psoriasis Awareness Week 2020 runs from Thursday 29 October (World Psoriasis Day) to Wednesday 4 November.

This year, the theme will be ‘types of psoriasis’, based around answering some of the ‘unknown knowns’ that came out of the recent Psoriasis Priority Setting Partnership. Over the course of the week, the Psoriasis Association will focus on a different type of psoriasis each day, chosen from those which are most commonly asked about on the helpline. On Wednesday 4 November, the spotlight will be on Psoriatic Arthritis and nails.…

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New Report on workforce challenges

The role of osteopaths as AHPs in the NHS

An independent panel of leading healthcare professionals, chaired by Professor Adrian Newland CBE, has authored a report including its findings on the role of osteopaths as Allied Health Professionals within the NHS, and their potential to provide much needed additional capacity to the delivery of NHS MSK services to improve patient care.

The report was launched at a virtual event with NHS commissioners, at which Sue Brown, CEO of ARMA, joined as part of the panel.…

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Roadmap to FCP Practice

Health Education England has published First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice. The document provides a clear educational pathway from undergraduate to advanced practice for clinicians pursuing a career in primary care.

As MSK first contact practitioners (FCPs) move into primary care, Health Education England is funding the development of supervisors and working in partnership with leading clinical organisations to build capacity.

There is a drop-down list on the HEE website and a link to register for these courses including from ARMA members the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine.

SOMM’s courses for portfolio route supervisors

Great news that the HEE Roadmap to Practice for First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners in Primary Care (Musculoskeletal) was published on 15 October! The Roadmap is available through the HEE website and provides a clear educational pathway from undergraduate to advanced practice for clinicians wishing to pursue a career in MSK primary care.

SOMM is delighted to be one of the organisations running courses to train supervisors to take clinicians through the portfolio route described in the Roadmap.

Supervisors need to be:

  • Working in MSK as an Advanced Practitioner with a postgraduate Master’s degree;
  • In a current team lead post in MSK and hold a postgraduate Master’s degree in MSK; or
  • Working as a Consultant Physiotherapist working in MSK

The courses will be able to take a maximum of 14 places and are open to a maximum of 2 supervisors per Trust/CCG.…

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Musculoskeletal health now more important than ever

by Sue Brown, CEO ARMA

At the end of Bone and Joint Week (12 – 20 October) I reflect on how much things have changed in just ten days. It is an increasingly worrying time for both healthcare professionals and people with MSK conditions. The response to Covid-19 has already had a significant impact on the MSK health of the nation. The need for good MSK services has grown. During lockdown people worked from makeshift home offices, were less active and many were afraid to use NHS services even when they needed them.…

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Joint statement from professionals and patients on MSK services in the event of a second wave of Covid-19

Joint statement from professionals and patients on MSK services in the event of a second wave of Covid-19

With cases of Covid-19 rising and the prospect of increased pressure on hospitals this winter as a result, it will be unacceptable for the NHS to respond to this by treating only urgent and emergency cases in musculoskeletal (MSK) services.

As organisations representing patients and professionals, we recognise that this was a necessary response in spring of this year. However, it came at significant cost to patients’ physical and mental health, and the resulting suffering will continue for many months, perhaps years, to come.…

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Power to the people: MSK Coproduction Tweet Chat

At 7pm on 21 September 2020, people living with musculoskeletal conditions and healthcare professionals and policy influencers congregated in anticipation of a tweet chat on Twitter – ‘Power to the People.’

The tweet chat encompassed co-production of a new NHS MSK strategy – patients and healthcare professionals improving care together. The discussion for that hour involved 51 people, 279 posts, 1197 engagements. The #MSKCoPro was seen over half a million times by over 100,000 users.

If you missed it, there were too many tweets to publish them all, but here are some of the themes that emerged in response to questions about:

Please feel free to continue the chat using #MSKCoPro.

…

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