Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
Influencing policy and care together for best lifelong musculoskeletal health
Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands invite people to take a survey as part of a research study about how people living with chronic MSK to share their views on massage therapy as a form of pain management.
The survey is open until 31st January 2026.
You can access the survey here.
The report is a collection of the most up-to-date, UK-wide statistics on arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. It is a resource for healthcare professionals, policy makers, public heath leads, researchers, people with these conditions, and anyone interested in MSK health. Arthritis UK believes that with the best information you can build awareness, make more informed decisions, feel more confident and ultimately help more people with MSK conditions, such as arthritis.
The GIRFT team have announced a series of upcoming webinars for November which will be of interest to all working across MSK care.
Thursday 13th November 2025
Andrew Bennett, GIRFT clinical lead for community MSK (cMSK) and consultant physiotherapist Sutton Health and Care, Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, is hosting a webinar to discuss digital solutions to support delivery of MSK care in community settings.
This webinar aims to give attendees a better understanding of digital innovations in community MSK settings and to highlight the benefits and risks associated with ambient AI. …
Read more of this article
Although RA Awareness Week 2025 has come to a close, NRAS’s mission to raise awareness about Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) continues every day.
NRAS was delighted to see over 2000 people using the Is it RA? Symptom Checker – a tool that should empower thousands more people to take the next step in seeking support from their healthcare professionals.
But the work doesn’t stop there. The symptom checker is now available permanently to help as many people as possible get the answers they need.…
Read more of this article
NRAS is proud to announce they have launched a new online tool aimed at helping individuals identify early signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition that affects around 400,000 people in the UK. If left untreated, it can cause long-term joint damage and affect other organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. Early diagnosis is crucial to managing the disease and preventing irreversible harm.
To support this, NRAS has introduced the “Is it RA?” Symptom Checker, a user-friendly online resource developed with input from leading rheumatology experts.…
Read more of this article
Recognising chiropractors in NHS could save the UK economy £1.5 billion, new BCA report finds.
The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is excited to share with the UK MSK community that their new Health Economics Report, created in collaboration with the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC), shows that integrating chiropractors into the UK National Health Service (NHS) could reduce waiting lists by more than 100,000 appointments each year. Additionally, this integration could enhance national productivity by £400 million annually. Over the duration of this Parliament, the total potential economic benefit could exceed £1.5 billion.…
Read more of this article
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.…
Read more of this article
NRAS invites healthcare professionals to exclusive webinars on supported self-management.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars 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:
Each session will last approximately 45 minutes and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn about NRAS’s free services.…
Read more of this article
Healthcare professionals in Wales can now signpost their axial SpA patients to a free course of online and in-person self-management sessions. Patients will leave these sessions with more knowledge and confidence to manage their symptoms, with a welcoming community for long-term support.
Visit the NASS website for more information. If you’d like free postcards to invite your patients, you can order them here.
Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for supporting this project. If you’d like any more information, please contact zoe@nass.co.uk…
Read more of this article
The Psoriasis Association has had a busy year updating their leaflet series, with the re-imagined Psoriatic Arthritis Leaflet being the final installment. The new, vibrant leaflet features authentic images of people living with psoriatic arthritis. The leaflet discusses advice on when to see a rheumatologist as well as first-line and second-line treatments.
The resource is ideal to take along to any medical appointments to discuss treatment options and whether you may require a referral to a specialist.
The leaflet is now available to view and download on The Psoriasis Association website here.
