What does this course aim to cover?

Spondyloarthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions that are often mistaken for musculoskeletal problems.

In particular, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis are commonly missed.

Diagnosis is often delayed by an average of eight to nine years because spondyloarthritis is not screened for or recognised in musculoskeletal assessments.

Unfortunately, diagnostic delay leads to worse disease impacts and poorer outcomes overall.

Screening for suspected spondyloarthritis and recognising when to refer to rheumatology is an essential skill and needs to be core knowledge in musculoskeletal assessments.

This course will improve your awareness and clinical skills regarding how to screen for possible axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis, when to refer and how to construct an effective, high quality referral for a rheumatology opinion.

Who would benefit from undertaking this course?

This course is aimed at early-career and experienced musculoskeletal and sports clinicians assessing spinal, joint and tendon problems.

Knowledge of inflammatory diseases and their musculoskeletal involvement is continually expanding, making it an exciting and important area in which to enhance your musculoskeletal and sports medicine expertise.

Clinical educators involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate musculoskeletal assessments need to have knowledge of inflammatory screening to support student placement education.

The course highlights important diagnostic skills that should be included in contemporary physiotherapy musculoskeletal assessments.

What role can physiotherapists play in facilitating earlier diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis?

Physiotherapists are key to early identification and diagnosis.

Clinicians developing these inflammatory screening skills are making a life-changing difference to people whose disease has not been recognised in the past.

What skills does this course seek to develop in musculoskeletal physiotherapists?

This course and the included practical activities are designed to support you to:

• develop an awareness of the clinical presentations of axial spondyloarthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis
• develop knowledge of the clinical signs, symptoms and risk factors that increase suspicion of axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis
• gain knowledge and practical skills in history taking and clinical examination for axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis—including blood tests and imaging—to enable appropriate and timely referrals to rheumatology.

‘Axial Spondyloarthritis’ is now available to purchase and watch online.

>>Dr Carol McCrum APAM has been a consultant physiotherapist in rheumatology and orthopaedics since 2005. She currently works in the Rheumatology Department at Canberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory. Carol is keen to continue to raise awareness about rheumatology conditions and to support the professional development of musculoskeletal clinicians, who are a key part of early recognition and referral.