Making exercise easier for osteoarthritis patients Researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital are trialling a new program to support people with knee osteoarthritis to move more and manage their symptoms.
symptoms and helps people manage the condition. We’re looking forward to finding an evidenced-based approach to help the community reach that amount of activity,” she said. The study has been funded by the Medical Research Future Fund and supported by Arthritis Australia state groups. If you’re interested in joining the trial, further details can be found on the website. https://www.osteoarthritisresearch.com.au/ cascadeoa-study-overview
Study co-lead Dr Vicky Duong said exercise is one of the most effective treatments of osteoarthritis. The Osteoarthritis Clinical Research Group has launched a study to identify the best way to incorporate more activity into each day. The trial will involve a 12-week self-guided physical activity program where participants will be offered either a detailed program and a Fitbit activity tracker, or the assistance of the Fitbit tracker. Vicky said it was important to involve the community in the design of this trial. “We hope that by listening to a broad range of communities, we have developed a program that will deliver improved results and better health outcomes.” Co-lead Dr Sarah Kobayashi said the guidelines recommend 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity a week or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week, or the combination of both. “This level of activity reduces osteoarthritis spinal ward courtyard at Royal North Shore Hospital, the ‘SCI Rookie Book’ is the first of a planned five-part series co-developed with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA). It was written by people with lived experience of supporting a family member through spinal cord injury, using simple language and a practical layout designed to make complex medical information easier to understand. Spinal ward social worker Helen Tonkin said the resource fills a long-standing gap for families. While there are many tools available for patients, families often feel lost and unsupported in those early days. “There aren’t a lot of resources for family members or carers,” Helen said. “A parent of one of the SCIA Peer Support Workers developed this resource based on their lived experience supporting a daughter with a spinal cord injury. Even the little details, such as space for questions or notes, demonstrate a genuine understanding of
Dr Sarah Kobayashi and Dr Vicky Duong
New spinal resource launched with BBQ tradition Families of people with spinal cord injuries now have a dedicated new resource to help them navigate the days and weeks following an injury. Launched during a Friday BBQ in the
what families go through.” The spinal ward BBQ is hosted every Friday, with staff cooking lunch for patients in the courtyard. It’s followed by a 2pm family meeting supported by peer workers and SCIA — an informal but important opportunity for families to connect, ask questions and share their experiences. The booklet is now available online via the SCIA Resource Hub: https://bit.ly/4kY3Rdo, and in hard copy on the ward.
Members of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia holding the ‘Rookie Book’ at RNSH
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