What’s your MSK condition?

What’s your MSK condition?

The decline in our bone, joint and muscle health is often seen as simply an inevitable consequence of ageing. The idea that we can mitigate this decline by adopting an active lifestyle – walking more, taking gentle exercise – does not receive sufficient attention. Ironically, the message that exercise matters has been highlighted by a new report suggesting that a ‘surge in hip fractures could be sign of ‘post-covid deconditioning’. The report, published by the Royal College of Physicians, using the 2023 National Hip Fracture Database report, shows that around 72,000 hip fractures were recorded in 2022 compared to 66,000 in 2020 and 67,000 in 2021.

The pandemic and associated lockdowns have left us with extensive backlogs for treatment, and a new set of potentially serious physical conditions ranging from ‘long-Covid’ to the excess weight which the Germans refer to as Coronaspeck. We were all forced to spend more time in our homes and exercise, even for the healthiest, was reduced to a short walk. Many community-based facilities such as exercise classes and walking groups have been slow to recover from the enforced shutdown. Even three years after the peak of the pandemic, many activities continued to be delivered exclusively online. A lot of older people, who were regular exercisers and joiners of community programmes before the pandemic, appear to have lost the habit. The inevitable consequence has been a significant deterioration in the MSK health (or condition) of the elderly and vulnerable population.

The risks posed by ‘generalised physical deconditioning’ were first highlighted by Public Health England in 2021. These fears appear to be confirmed by the Royal College of Physicians’ report. Not only does this have a serious impact on the health of people suffering fractures but it also represents a significant financial cost at a time of constrained resources.  The report says that “the cost of inpatient care for these extra fractures will have added £75m to the annual cost of hip fractures”.

This need to focus on MSK health as a whole rather than simply treat MSK conditions through surgical intervention was one of the reasons why we are partnering with ESCAPE-pain. This award-winning group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain, opens-up new modes of care within a non-healthcare setting such as community and leisure centres. Although we were forced to deliver ESCAPE-pain as an online programme throughout much of 2020 and 21, we are pleased to see it return to its original face-to-face format. Not only does this encourage people to leave their homes to attend classes, but the experience of exercising in a group of people has a significant impact, not only on people’s fitness but also their mental health. MSK conditioning or reconditioning programmes such as ESCAPE-pain are essential to counter the negative impact of the pandemic on people’s physical health.

ESCAPE-pain stands for Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Pain using Exercise.


The government has also identified the need to tackle the nation’s deconditioning and has announced ambitious plans to get an additional 3.5 million people physically active by 2030. The announcement was accompanied by the publication of a strategy paper, Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity. This highlighted the role of MSK Hubs, which are supported by our charity and ESCAPE-pain, as an example of how sport and physical activity can help people ‘live healthier, longer and happier lives’.  The MSK Hubs programme recently secured £1.4m of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Healthy Ageing Challenge. If successful, they offer a solution to post-Covid deconditioning, and its associated problems including the risk of hip fractures. 

Jacqueline B.

Sales Manager Capri Healthcare Strategically working towards the company’s mission of leveraging AI to revolutionise healthcare.

1y

"As a strong advocate for walking and exercise, I wholeheartedly support the drive to prevent bone, joint, and muscle issues. Your partnership with ESCAPE-pain is a significant step forward."

Charlie Wagner

Health Optimization Coach | Fat Loss & Muscle Gain Expert | Lose 15 Pounds in 4 Months Guaranteed | 1 on 1 Coaching for Epic Transformation | Click on the link below ⬇️

1y

Addressing the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns on healthcare backlogs and emerging physical conditions is a critical issue. It's essential to raise awareness and provide insights in these challenging times.

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