For too long, people living with osteoarthritis have felt powerless - like there’s nothing they can do to influence change. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In this powerful episode, Prof. David Hunter is joined by Louise Hardy, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Arthritis Australia, to explore how individuals can use their voice to drive meaningful change - especially in the lead-up to the Australian federal election.

Louise shares practical ways you can support better care, fairer funding, and more accessible services for the 7 million Australians living with arthritis. They discuss the importance of community-led advocacy, out-of-pocket costs, gaps in clinical care, and how you can be part of the solution, today.

Whether you live in Australia or abroad, this episode offers a roadmap for how your voice can make a difference - starting now.

RESOURCES

• Take action by emailing your local MP via the Arthritis Australia microsite: https://arthritisaus.good.do/election25/Act-Now-25/
• Join the Arthritis Australia Champions program: https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/get-involved/arthritis-champions/
• Learn more about Arthritis Australia initiatives: https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Instagram: @osteoarthritisresearchgroup
• Email: osteoarthritis.research@sydney.edu.au
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MRIs are increasingly used to detect early signs of osteoarthritis - but are they truly beneficial for most people? On this week's episode, we examine the role of MRI scans in diagnosing knee osteoarthritis, particularly in its early stages. Joined by leading experts Dr. Alison Chang, a professor of Physical Therapy at Northwestern University, and Dr. Ali Guermazi, a Radiology professor at Boston University, we explore the genuine value of MRIs. Our discussion highlights when these imaging tests can be helpful and when they might lead to unnecessary interventions. We also discuss why many MRI-detected changes don't actually progress into osteoarthritis and share practical advice for effectively managing knee health.

Tune in for an evidence-based conversation to understand when MRIs truly add value - and when they may not.

RESOURCES

• Learn more about the frequency of MRI-detected structural abnormalities in healthy, pain-free individuals: https://x.com/OACJournal/status/1843050098579943647
• View the diagram illustrating Alison Chang’s 'inverted-U curve' concept of how activity levels relate to body capacity: Capacity vs. Load graphs_Dr Alison Chang.pdf

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Instagram: @osteoarthritisresearchgroup
• Email: osteoarthritis.research@sydney.edu.au
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could know your risk of developing osteoarthritis years before symptoms appear? In this episode, we explore whether a blood test could provide those answers.

Joining us on this week's episode is Dr. Virginia Kraus, a leading rheumatologist and researcher, to discuss her study that identified osteoarthritis risk up to 10 years in advance with 77% accuracy. We unpack what this means for early detection, the role of inflammation in disease progression, and how this research could shape future treatment and prevention strategies.

Tune in to find out what the future of osteoarthritis detection could look like.

RESOURCES

• The MOST Study: www.bumc.bu.edu/rheumatology/research/clinical-trials/the-multicenter-osteoarthritis-study-most/
• CANTOS Trial: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1707914

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Instagram: @osteoarthritisresearchgroup
• Email: osteoarthritis.research@sydney.edu.au
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.