Joint Action

The impact of osteoarthritis remains a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide with approximately 528 million people affected. The global prevalence of hip and knee OA is approaching 5% and expected to increase further with the aging population. The increasing rates of obesity in adults, combined with lack of physical activity and joint injuries are also contributing to the rise in OA incidence. Osteoarthritis is a serious condition which has substantial implications on one’s day-to-day functioning. It is associated with other diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and back pain all of which leads to an increase in mortality. Dr. Gillian Hawker is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, at the University of Toronto. She is active staff in Rheumatology at Women’s College Hospital, where she is a clinician-scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute. She is a senior scientist at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and adjunct senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. In July 2014, she was appointed the Sir John and Lady Eaton Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T).RESOURCESOARSI white paper - osteoarthritis as a serious diseaseCONNECT WITH GILLIANTwitter: @UofTDoMChairEmail: g.hawker@utoronto.caCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Osteoarthritis places a large burden on the individuals that are affected as well is to society as a whole. It is important to reflect that that burden is not distributed equally. The prevalence of osteoarthritis is higher amongst women compared to men. Women also experience higher rates of disease severity and disability. In an effort to better understand these disparities with the overarching focus being to improve health outcomes for all it is important to understand the influence of sex and gender differences in osteoarthritis research and clinical care. Melissa Laitner, PhD, MPH is Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the Society for Women’s Health Research, a Washington, D.C. based non-profit with a goal of improving health care for women through science, policy, and education. At SWHR, Laitner manages all regulatory and legislative efforts, transforming the work of SWHR’s scientific experts into tangible, evidence-based policy recommendations. Prior to joining SWHR, Laitner worked as an American Association for the Advancement of Science health policy fellow in the office of Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). In this role, she worked on a wide-ranging portfolio with an emphasis on matters related to CMS, FDA, prescription drugs, mental health, and topics relevant to health care transparency, costs, and coverage. Before entering the policy field, Laitner worked as a clinical health psychologist at a large academic medical center. She remains a licensed clinical psychologist in the District of Columbia.RESOURCESJournal articlesUnderstanding the Impact of Sex and Gender in Osteoarthritis: Assessing Research Gaps and Unmet NeedsCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite the large prevalence of osteoarthritis, there is no clinically approved drug which provides a cure. Currently, drugs focus on relieving symptoms such as pain. Experiments done in the laboratory have provided insight on osteoarthritis onset and progression and will likely guide therapeutic development.  We know that osteoarthritis is a disease of the whole organ meaning that any of the tissues involved in the synovial joint can be affected. The interplay between the various cell types involved is complex and understanding the interactions between cartilage, bone and synovium may be critical to therapeutic development. Skeletal development likely plays a very important role in predisposition to disease. Through the identification of serious pathologies such as various forms of dwarfism (what in medical terms are called chondrodysplasias) the role of transcription factors and epigenetics is increasing our understanding of disease genesis.The study of the epigenetics of OA - the mechanism by which the human genome alters it’s gene expression (without changing the primary DNA sequence) has provided valuable information on novel risk factors for the disease and are potential therapeutic targets for OA.  On today's show, Dr Frank Beier joins us to discuss the recent advances in osteoarthritis understanding with a particular emphasis on novel targets and epigenetics. Frank Beier is the Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Western Ontario and a member of Western’s Bone and Joint Institute. He is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. His lab explores mechanisms controlling cartilage and joint biology, using genetically engineered mice in combination with surgical, dietary and activity manipulations. This is a natural fit with the objectives of the Bone and Joint Institute, an environment that has helped to foster collaborations with fellow researchers from other fields such as clinicians (surgeons, rheumatologists) and imaging scientists. As an engaged member of the Institute’s Operations Committee, Dr. Beier sees value in Institute priorities that improve his training program and that support the acquisition of additional research funds. Dr. Beier has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and gave 100 invited presentations. His work is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (from which he won a foundation award in the inaugural competition in 2015) and The Arthritis Society. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International and several editorial boards, including the Deputy Editor for Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. He was the Chair of the 2017 Cartilage Gordon Conference and won the OARSI Basic Science award in 2019.  RESOURCESJournal articlesNuclear receptors as potential drug targets in osteoarthritisInterplay between genetics and epigenetics in osteoarthritisRecent developments in emerging therapeutic targets of osteoarthritisCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many reasons why osteoarthritis (OA) might develop in the first place, the progression of the disease can vary dramatically between different individuals and their response to different treatments can similarly be quite distinct. With the greater understanding OA pathophysiology, OA can often be described as a spectrum of disease composed of different phenotypes. Some people have even described this as a mixed bag of disorders or falling under the osteoarthritis umbrella. By characterising OA into phenotypes, it helps to improve our knowledge of the disease, and ultimately enables targeted treatment based on the phenotype that a patient presents with. On this episode of Joint Action, we will be speaking to Dr Francis Berenbaum to learn more about osteoarthritis phenotypes, how they are identified and how this affects the management of OA. Dr. Berenbaum is Professor of rheumatology at Sorbonne Université and is the Director of the Department of Rheumatology at AP-HP Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris, France. He is the national representative of bone and joint diseases at AVIESAN, the French Alliance for the Life Science and Health.  He is a member of the EULAR Public Affairs Group and is a former member of the EULAR Scientific Program committee in 2018-2020. He is a former president of OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) in 2008-2010 and of the French Society of Rheumatology in 2014-2016. He is Associate Editor of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Dr Berenbaum leads an experimental team at INSERM institute. His basic research interests include the understanding of relationships between metabolic diseases and osteoarthritis. His clinical research focuses on new targeted therapies for treating symptoms and structural changes in osteoarthritis. He is involved in several clinical trials either from public or private partners. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.RESOURCESJournal articlesOsteoarthritis and inflammation: a serious disease with overlapping phenotypic patternsThe Phenotypic Approach to Osteoarthritis: A Look at Metabolic Syndrome-Associated OsteoarthritisDeep phenotyping of osteoarthritis: a step forwardCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like other chronic conditions, the symptoms of osteoarthritis tend to fluctuate. About 25-30% of people suffering from knee osteoarthritis also suffer from what we call OA “flares” or “exacerbations”. These “flares” are often described as temporary episodes of increased pain, stiffness and swelling, which may also be accompanied by other physical and psychological symptoms. “Flares” can cause considerable disruption to daily activities, sleeping and concentration and is a common complaint from those presenting to health professionals. Despite this, there is little known about what causes flares and how we can best manage them. On today’s episode of Joint Action, we will be speaking to Dr Martin Thomas to learn more about “flares”, their triggers and how to best manage them. Dr Martin Thomas is a clinical academic, working as a Research Fellow in the School of Medicine at Keele University in the UK and as a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in the NHS. After completing a degree in Human Movement Science at the University of Liverpool and a Masters in Sport Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University, he went on to qualify as a physiotherapist in 2007, also from the University of Liverpool. In 2009 he moved to Keele to undertake a PhD on the clinical epidemiology of symptomatic midfoot osteoarthritis. As a post-doctoral researcher, his primary focus is on leading and developing web-based cohort studies using self-controlled methodologies to examine flares of osteoarthritis. His flares work was funded by the NIHR through its School for Primary Care Research and through an Integrated Clinical Academic Programme Clinical Lectureship from the NIHR and Health Education England (www.nihr.ac.uk).RESOURCESInfographic on flaresCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics include fascinating facts about crocodiles, UnitedHealthcare's short-term insurance plans, sleep number smartbed, Plushcare's telehealth services. Host expresses gratitude to listeners for support, hints at upcoming partnerships and diverse topics for future episodes.

Despite the prevalence, impact and disability associated with osteoarthritis, it is still relatively poorly understood. New insights are affording a window into previously held strong beliefs that we now consider as misconceptions. Many people in the community simply believe that osteoarthritis is a consequence of getting older. Others believe that the joint has no capacity for repair and some have suggested that we should just use treatments widely used for other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. These misconceptions have consequences both in terms of language that is used - with terms such as "wear and tear", osteoarthrosis, and degenerative joint disease being widely used but notoriously inaccurate descriptors of this disease.On this episode of we discuss many of the misconceptions an myths about osteoarthritis including, osteoarthritis as an inevitable part of aging, the ability for cartilage to repair, "mechanoinflammation" and much more.Tonia Vincent studied medicine at UCL UK, qualifying in 1993. She trained as a junior doctor in London, later specialising in Rheumatology. In 1998 she took time out to do a PhD at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology under Professor Jeremy Saklatvala (awarded 2002). She continued at the Kennedy Institute as a Wellcome Trust clinician scientist and subsequently as an Arthritis Research UK Senior Fellow. In 2012 the Kennedy Institute moved to the University of Oxford and she was appointed Professor of Musculoskeletal Biology. She directs the Centre for OA Pathogenesis funded by Versus Arthritis. Her research interests include pathways that drive mechanosensitive responses in cartilage, the role of the pericellular matrix in determining these responses and how they modulate osteoarthritis in vivo. Her work is funded by Versus Arthritis, MRC, ERC and the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research. She continues to be clinically active, running both osteoarthritis clinics and the multidisciplinary Marfan Syndrome clinic. CONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Osteoarthritis is a frequent reason for patients to visit their GP or primary care practitioner, and the predominant reason they would do so is because of increasing difficulty with activities and pain. GPs are often the primary person into many healthcare systems and are typically visited before seeing any other health care practitioner for exercise, diet or surgery. Patients with osteoarthritis often have other serious commodities and the modern health care system typically does not afford long appointments which address behaviour change, shared decision making and counselling which leads patients to receive adequate, coordinated and appropriate care. On this week's episode of Joint Action we discuss what you should expect from your GP, including how to optimise your visit with your GP, tools to help healthcare practitioners and patients to make appropriate intervention choices and much more. Dr. Regina Sit obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Hong Kong. She became a Family Medicine Specialist of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine since 2011. In addition to her specialist training, she also carries qualifications in pediatrics, dermatology, geriatric and internal medicine. As a Family Physician, she develops her special skills in pain management and is a Certified Interventional Pain Sonologist by the World Institute of Pain. Her clinical and research interests focus on the study of musculoskeletal pain in primary care. She is passionate about exploring, designing, evaluating and implementing innovative interventions to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain. Currently, she is the director of the “CUHK-Jockey Club Pain Relief Project for the Seniors”, and is leading an interdisciplinary team for chronic pain management in primary care.George Peat is a Professor in Clinical Epidemiology at Keele University. George qualified as a physiotherapist in 1991 from Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh, before going on to gain a Masters in Public Health Sciences at Edinburgh University and PhD in 1998 from Manchester University. He later joined the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre at Keele University in 1999.RESOURCESKeele University Impact Accelerator UnitVersus ArthritisCUHK-Jockey Club Pain Relief Project for the Seniors - Youtube Channel for exercise (in Cantonese)Journal ArticlesPatients' and practitioners' views of knee osteoarthritis and its management: a qualitative interview studyPatient reported barriers and facilitators to using a self-management booklet for hip and knee osteoarthritis in primary care: results of a qualitative interview studyWhat influences patients with osteoarthritis to consult their GP about their symptoms? A narrative reviewComparison of patient experiences of the osteoarthritis consultation with GP attitudes and beliefs to OA: a narrative reviewThe Identity Crisis of Osteoarthritis in General Practice: A Qualitative Study Using Video-Stimulated RecallThe relative importance of perceived doctor's attitude on the decision to consult for symptomatic osteoarthritis: a choice-based conjoint analysis studyCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 70% of people living with osteoarthritis are reported to be taking some form of complementary or alternative medicine for their osteoarthritis. The most common products are fish oil, glucosamine, vitamin D, chondroitin and herbal medicines. This is a very controversial area with differences between what is recommended by physicians, international guidelines, industry and marketing and then ultimately what people actually take for their osteoarthritis. On this episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Dr Jeffry Strong, a scientific director of a supplement company, as well as Hugh Amoyal, to provide a consumer perspective. On this episode of we discuss: what are natural supplements and how do they differ from other commonly used treatment options, what to consider before purchasing and incorporating natural supplements into your routine and much more.Dr Jeffry Michael Strong MD is a naturopathic physician trained in primary care medicine with special interests in complementary and alternative medicine, sports nutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular health. Dr Strong is currently serving as Scientific Director in the Asia region and Japan Country Manager for Horphag Research. He is fluent in Japanese.RESOURCESDietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysisNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health - Know the Science webpageIntegrative Therapeutics - Drug-Nutrient InteractionsSeven questions to identify health misinformation in digital and social mediaCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first line pain relieving medication recommended in most therapeutic guidelines for osteoarthritis is the anti-inflammatory group of medications. They consistently demonstrate modest effects for relieving pain and improving function, pretty much irrespective of the site of osteoarthritis whether that be the hand, knee or hip. There is a huge variety of anti-inflammatories available, different routes of administration including oral and topical, different dosage strengths along with other elements that influence patient preference. On this episode we discuss: what are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and how do they work, what are the side effects of taking NSAIDs and how often do these occur, how efficacious are NSAIDs for pain relief and much moreProf Ric Day AM (MBBS, FRACP, MD) is internationally and nationally recognised for his research, leadership and advocacy in support of quality use of medicines (QUM). He has been deeply involved in Australia’s National Medicines Policy and the quality use of medicines component culminating in his Chairmanship of the Pharmaceutical Health and Rational Use of Medicines Committee (PHARM) for the Federal Government in 1999-2008. His research focuses on quality use of medicines and methods of enhancing the safe use of medicines using eHealth systems and decision support tools He has published over 600 peer reviewed papers. His current collaborations have lead to significant work investigating the potential of eHealth tools to increase medication safety but he has other significant areas of research. Prof Day is a committed undergraduate & post-graduate teacher & research mentor. Prof Day has received many awards, including Member of the Order of Australia AM. RESOURCESNPS MedicinewiseArthritis AustraliaThis Way UpCONNECT WITH USTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.