Recognising World Arthritis Day 2024
The purpose of World Arthritis Day is to raise global awareness of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, highlighting their impact on people living with them. With so much information readily available online, it can be hard to determine if what you’re reading is accurate or reliable. That’s why this year’s theme, ‘Informed Choices, Better Outcomes’, is so important. It highlights how accessing reliable information can make a real difference in managing arthritis and improving quality of life (Musculoskeletal Health Australia, 2024).
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term for joint pain or joint disease. Symptoms often include pain, swelling, stiffness, and less movement in the joints. Arthritis can affect people of all ages, although it’s more commonly diagnosed in people as they get older. There are many different types of arthritis, with the two primary forms being rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs when the immune system attacks the joints. The tissue that lines the joints becomes inflamed and thickens, leading to swelling, pain, and permanent disability. RA typically begins between the ages of 40 and 60 and is caused by genetic and environmental factors (Mohammed et al., 2020).
Major risk factors include:
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Gender
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Age
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Family history
Osteoarthritis (OA) develops when the connective tissue (cartilage) between the joints begins to break down. This causes pain, swelling and restricted movement. OA is the most common joint condition and is widespread among older adults (Mohammed et al., 2020).
Major risk factors include:
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Joint injury or overuse
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Gender
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Age
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Obesity
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Race
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Genetics
The main difference between the two forms is which joints are most affected. RA typically affects the small joints in the hands and feet, whereas OA usually affects the larger joints, such as knees or hips (Mohammed et al., 2020).
Understanding the impact of arthritis in Australia: a closer look at the numbers
In 2022, approximately 3.7 million Australians were living with some form of arthritis. This number reflects a large portion of our community (ABS, 2023). Arthritis Australia forecasts that this figure will rise to 4.11 million by 2025. As we look ahead, it's clear that arthritis will continue to affect more and more lives, reminding us of the need for greater awareness and support.
Arthritis has been a steady presence in Australia, consistently affecting about 15.3% of the population since 2004-05. What’s particularly important to note is that nearly half of all arthritis diagnoses are among those aged 75 and older, making them much more likely to face arthritis compared to younger age groups (ABS, 2023). This highlights the importance of understanding arthritis and supporting older people in the community as they manage their health and well-being.
And it’s not just the people living with arthritis that are impacted; it’s important to understand how these conditions affect all of us. In 2023, musculoskeletal issues accounted for 13% of Australia's health challenges. This isn’t just a statistic—it has a significant impact on healthcare spending. For instance, AIHW (2024) reports that in 2020-21, we spent $4.3 billion on treating osteoarthritis (OA) and around $966.1 million on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These figures remind us that arthritis is not only a personal struggle for many but also a significant concern for our healthcare system and society.
How can Kieser help you with your arthritis?
Strength training for arthritis will build the muscle needed to support and protect joints affected by arthritis. Research by Desmeules et al. (2013) and Roo et al. (2006) has shown that rehabilitation strength training programs can:
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reduce pain
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increase strength
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improve function
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lead to better post-surgical outcomes
In fact, strength training can even help some people delay or avoid joint replacement surgeries they were initially considered for (Skou et al., 2015).
At Kieser, we create personalised strength training programs to help people manage their arthritis. We aim to reduce joint pain by increasing your strength so that you can move more freely. Our university-qualified Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can help design exercise programs that are safe and effective for clients suffering from all forms of arthritis,.
Strength training with Kieser is different to gym programs you might traditionally associate with strength training. We create strength programs for you to use on our specialised machines that require just 2 x 30-minute weekly training sessions to be effective. And we don’t have music blaring across our clinics. Our clinics are mirror and music-free, making it a welcoming and focused environment for everyone, with our team always on hand to help.
Learn about the Kieser Health Funded Osteoarthritis Program
Kieser has partnered with over 20 health insurers to help people manage their osteoarthritis and improve their long-term health. The 14-week program is designed to:
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Reduce pain and associated symptoms.
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Prevent or delay joint replacement surgery (Skou et al., 2015).
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Improve your ability to participate in your normal, everyday activities.
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Provide a sustainable plan to help self-manage osteoarthritis.
Program inclusions:
Physiotherapy – An initial assessment, additional treatment, and supervised training session based on your specific program.
Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology – A set number of one-on-one exercise sessions based on your program type.
Strength training – A Physiotherapy-designed program tailored to your condition and needs using Kieser’s Swiss-engineered equipment.
The Kieser Hip & Knee Osteoarthritis Program is fully funded by eligible hospital cover through participating funds.
Click here to learn more and to start your referral process at Kieser, or call 03 8554 1155.
References:
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics). (2023, December 15). Arthritis. Retrieved from ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics): www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/arthritis/latest-release
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) . (2024, June 17). Chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Retrieved from AIHW: www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/arthritis
Arthritis Australia. (2024, October 2). World Arthritis Day 2024. Retrieved from Arthritis Australia: arthritisaustralia.com.au/world-arthritis-day-2024/
Arthritis Foundation. (2022, June 9). What is Arthritis? Retrieved from Arthritis Foundation: www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis
Desmeules F, Toliopoulos P, Roy JS, Woodhouse LJ, Lacelle M, Leroux M, Girard S, Feldman DE, Fernandes JC. Validation of an advanced practice physiotherapy model of care in an orthopaedic outpatient clinic. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013 May 8;14:162. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-162. PMID: 23656928; PMCID: PMC3658921.
Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, Lazariu V, McNutt LA, Carpenter DO. A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data. Prev Med Rep. 2020 Nov 5;20:101242. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242. PMID: 33294313; PMCID: PMC7689317.
Musculoskeletal Health Australia. (2024, October 12). World Arthritis Day. Informed Choices. Better Outcomes. Retrieved from Musculoskeletal Health Australia: muscha.org/world-arthritis-day
De Roo M, Wong G, Rempel GR, Fraser SN. Advancing Optimal Development in Children: Examining the Construct Validity of a Parent Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. JMIR Pediatr Parent. 2019 May 9;2(1):e11561. doi: 10.2196/11561. PMID: 31518301; PMCID: PMC6716429.
Skou ST, Roos EM, Laursen MB, Rathleff MS, Arendt-Nielsen L, Simonsen O, Rasmussen S. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Total Knee Replacement. N Engl J Med. 2015 Oct 22;373(17):1597-606. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1505467. PMID: 26488691.
