Spondyloarthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions that mimic common musculoskeletal problems. Delays in diagnosis average up to 8-9 years for many people, despite significant advances in research and imaging, because it is often not recognised in musculoskeletal assessments. Screening for suspected spondyloarthritis (SpA) and when to refer onto rheumatology is an essential a core skill in clinical assessments. Musculoskeletal clinicians are key to early diagnosis to help reduce the significant immediate and long-term impacts of these inflammatory diseases. Spondyloarthritis can be challenging to recognise and often mistaken as chronic mechanical low back pain or unrelated tendon and joint problems. Research shows that the inflammatory disease links between persistent back pain, peripheral problems and extra-articular inflammatory manifestations are often missed in clinical practice. Knowing what features should raise suspicion of spondyloarthritis and when to refer onto rheumatology is an important aspect of musculoskeletal clinical practice.
Dr Carol McCrum, BSciApp (Phys), GD(Manip), Dip Inj, Dip Msk.Med, DPT, APAM, has been a Consultant Physiotherapist in Rheumatology and Orthopaedics since 2005 and currently works at Canberra Hospital, Rheumatology Department, ACT. Carol completed her doctorate in acute low back pain (2011) and is a Visiting Research Fellow at University of Brighton. Carol was a committee member of NICE Guidance and Quality Standards on Spondyloarthritis and was awarded a NICE Fellowship to raise awareness of this guidance. She is involved in national and international projects, including the WHO RA Rehabilitation Guidance Development Group and All Party Parliamentary Group on Axial Spondyloarthritis. Carol is Co-Chair of the UK Rheumatology Specialist Physiotherapy Clinical Interest Group and co-author of the Rheumatology Physiotherapy Capabilities Framework (2021) that includes capabilities for the musculoskeletal clinician. Carol is keen to continue to raise awareness about recognising rheumatology conditions and support professional development of musculoskeletal clinicans who are key to earlier recognition and referral.
Musculoskeletal and Pain National Groups
20/09/2022
1.5 Hours
Please note: The content of this Lecture on Demand (LOD) was captured via a recording of a live lecture at the APA premises. Due to the nature of the event and the recording method, this LOD may not have captured some of the questions/comments from live audience. Your purchase of this module indicates your acceptance of this.
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