Access to physios and dietitians essential to address escalating arthritis crisis

• Arthritis Australia is calling for affordable, non-surgical care from physiotherapists, dietitians, and other allied health professionals to help stem the escalating arthritis crisis placing unprecedented strain on our communities, hospitals, and health budget. 

• More than a third of Australians are living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain. Together they are our most costly disease group with an annual burden of $15 billion.1 

• Hip and knee replacements for osteoarthritis have reached a record high, averaging over 370 procedures per day and projected to more than double by 2030 to an unsustainable over 650 daily surgeries. 2,3,4 

• Representatives of the arthritis community and leading experts will gather in Parliament House for the first time to address the escalating issues in arthritis and musculoskeletal care. 

• Research shows education and support for exercise, weight loss, and pain management through allied health professionals can reduce costly hip and knee replacements by a third - saving $1.01 billion annually.5 

Available for interviews: 

• Jonathan Smithers – CEO, Arthritis Australia 

Details: 

Location: Private Dining Room, Parliament House Canberra  

Date & Time: Thursday 22nd August 2024, 9.30am – 1.00pm 

Issued by Cube on behalf of Arthritis Australia. For more information, please contact: Anne-Marie Sparrow on 0417 421 560 or Kayla Behayi on 0403 425 572.  

References 

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia, 2020-21, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 25 January 2024. 

2. Ackerman I et. al., (2019). The projected burden of primary total knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis in Australia to the year 2030. Accessed 13 August 2024 

3. Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry, Procedures Reported (hip and knee). Accessed at https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/procedures-reported. 

4. Ackerman, I.N., Bohensky, M.A., Zomer, E. et al. The projected burden of primary total knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis in Australia to the year 2030. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 20, 90 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2411-9  

5. Ackerman IN, Skou ST, Roos EM, Barton CJ, Kemp JL, Crossley KM, Liew D, Ademi Z. Implementing a national first-line management program for moderate-severe knee osteoarthritis in Australia: A budget impact analysis focusing on knee replacement avoidance. Osteoarthr Cartil Open. 2020 May 6;2(3):100070. doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2020.100070. PMID: 36474677; PMCID: PMC9718332.