IMH Newsletter: April 2024
Institute for Musculoskeletal Health
A partnership in musculoskeletal health and physical activity with University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District
Welcome to the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health's first newsletter of 2024! We have included a?range of insights, tips and study updates?in this issue. We welcome you to also join us at?our upcoming events and to?celebrate the?achievements by our wonderful staff. We hope you enjoy reading this issue and welcome any suggestions or feedback you may have regarding future newsletters. Please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected].
Welcome to Sara Brady
We are delighted to welcome Sara Brady to the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health as our new Administrative Officer. With her extensive experience as an operational and administrative professional, we are excited for her?valuable contribution?that she will bring to our team.
?World Day for Physical Activity
April 6 was World Day for Physical Activity?- a time to take action to create a more physically active world. We celebrated the day by sharing how our staff and students get active on our socials: Twitter (X),?Facebook?and LinkedIn. It was great to see all the activities we do including running, surfing, hiking, dance, swimming, walking and Pilates. ? We also shared our recently publications about physical activity, disability and healthy ageing, including our latest article in The Conversation:?Days are getting shorter and colder. 6 tips for sticking to your fitness goals?by Dr Juliana?Oliveira, Professor Anne Tiedemann, Professor Cathie Sherrington and Associate Professor Leanne Hassett.?
The article provides tips on how to set goals, keep on track, and overcome barriers, so you can continue to keep active all year round, including those cold winter days. You can view other recent publications from our Physical Activity, Ageing and Disability stream here.
April Falls Month ?
Falls among older people are a huge public health problem, leading to injuries, disability and even death. Currently, in New South Wales?falls are estimate to cost more than $750 million per year. Professor Cathie Sherrington was part of a team which authored the Fall Prevention in NSW?White Paper?which details?the high cost and trauma?falls has on?individuals and the community. It includes a number of?recommendations for?governments and policy makers to consider and put into action.?
April Falls Month aims to raise awareness about the impact of falls and to promote the latest and best fall prevention strategies. The overall goal of the campaign is to get people active and improve balance for fall prevention. Sydney MSK is currently running some important research about fall prevention and physical activity. Rik Dawson, PhD Candidate, was on 4BC Brisbane radio the other day promoting awareness for April Falls Month as part of his role as the Australian Physiotherapy Association Vice-President. You can listen to his talk here. Dr Juliana Oliveira and team also published a blog in the British Journal of Sports Medicine this month about the use of health coaching and fall prevention advice for older people.?You can read the?article here.?
Upcoming Events
Practical Pathways to Workplace Wellbeing Conference
Join us at?the Workplace Wellbeing Conference 2024 on April 30th from?8 am - 4:30 pm at the Telstra Customer Insights Centre. Hosted by Sydney Local Health District, the event features the award-winning My District OK (MDOK) program, expert speakers, and interactive workshops. Emceed by Australian icon Adam Spencer, gain insights on implementing evidence-based strategies for workplace wellness. Connect with other leaders and hear?from?Dr Bethan Richards, Australia's first Chief Medical Wellness Officer and?Director of the MDOK Centre, to?learn how to prioritise wellbeing in your workplace.
Sydney Health Partner Seminar: Promotion of Physical Activity by Health Professionals
Sydney Health Partners Musculoskeletal Clinical Academic Group is holding an online research dissementation series.?Join us at this engaging online event which will explore the latest evidence into the promotion of physical activity by health professionals. This insightful session features world leading experts; Professor Cathie Sherrington, Professor Anne Tiedemann, Kate Purcell and Associate Professor Leanne Hassett. They will share their research, experiences and findings which look at different ways to empower and promote physical activity and well-being in the community.?Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and be part of the conversation. Register now to secure your place. Date: Wednesday, 8th May 2024 Time: 4-5pm AEST
To reserve your spot, sign up through Eventbrite.
Sydney Innovation Week
In the Media
Four Corners: Pain Factory
Following the recent airing of?'Four Corners: Pain Factory'?on ABC TV, which delved into the complexities of the pain industry, a ripple effect has ensued. The episode, now available on ABC iview?or YouTube, highlighted the controversial use of spinal cord stimulators for back pain, citing?the?Cochrane review authored by researchers from the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health;?Dr. Adrian Traeger, Dr Stephen Gilbert, Professor Ian Harris and Professor Chris Maher. This scrutiny has prompted Health Minister Mark Butler to call for an urgent inquiry into the use of spinal cord stimulators.?
In tandem with this inquiry, a new The?Conversation article, linked to the episode, questions the efficacy and potential harm of spinal cord stimulators, further fueling the discourse surrounding chronic back pain management. Additionally, Adrian's recent appearance on ABC News NSW, available on ABC iview?until 24th April, provides insights into the ongoing debate.
Meanwhile, Professor Ian Harris, featured in a different?ABC news clip discussing?the challenges within the pain industry, underscoring?the need for evidence-based approaches. A separate The Conversation article by Professor Christine Lin?and colleagues, offers alternative evidence based options to managing chronic back pain without resorting to surgery, adding depth to the ongoing conversation.?As these discussions continue to unfold, it becomes increasingly evident that a multifaceted approach to pain management is essential in addressing the complexities of chronic pain.?
New Research Trial
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, musculoskeletal conditions are the 6th most common emergency department presentation, with 432,966 visits in 2022–23.?The RESHAP-ED trial, led by the Institute's Dr Gustavo Machado, was launched late last year at RPA Hospital. It is?funded by the Medical Research Future Fund. The trial?aims to ease pressure on ED's by exploring the?involvement of?primary-contact physiotherapists in the initial assessment and management of patients presenting with simple musculoskeletal conditions.?
The primary outcome measure of this trial?is length of stay in the ED.?The hypothesis is that introducing a?primary-contact physiotherapy pathway in ED, will offer cost-effective and?timely care with comparable patient satisfaction and health outcomes. The trial will also be evaluating?the use of diagnostic imaging,?pain medications, re-presentations, patient-reported outcomes (including pain intensity, quality of life, and satisfaction with care)?and?adverse events. This trial will provide insights into the potential benefits of integrating?physiotherapists into the care pathway for musculoskeletal conditions within an ED. Understanding the efficacy of this approach is important, and will help to create consistency?of physiotherapist involvement in EDs nationwide.
This trial addresses a critical gap in evidence and may?potentially reshape?musculoskeletal care in EDs across Australia. Stayed tuned for further updates and results of this trial by following Dr Gustavo Machado, Dr Tarcisio Campos and?the IMH on social media.
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Latest Awards
Prof Chris Maher appointed a Member of the?Order of Australia (AM)
On Australia Day, Professor Chris Maher was awarded as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for significant service to physiotherapy as a researcher, clinician and mentor, particularly in the field of pain management.?
Chris has devoted his career to understanding and improving the lives of individuals suffering from musculoskeletal conditions. His work has influenced clinical practices both in Australia and around the world and he has transformed?the way healthcare professionals approach the treatment and management of back pain.?His research has been pivotal in looking?at?more effective and evidence-based?models of care for?musculoskeletal conditions. ?
Upon receiving the honour, Professor Maher expressed his gratitude, emphasising that the award was not a personal milestone but rather,?a recognition of the collaborative efforts of the broader team at the Institute.
IMH's Media-Worthy?Publications of 2023
In 2023, the IMH achieved remarkable publication success. Nine articles received Altmetric attention scores that were ranked in the top 99th percentile of all research output tracked. These publications spanned a breadth of topics from pain medication use to fall prevention, with each publication generating significant media attention.??
Below is a selection of fifteen publications from 2023 which generated significant attention online and in the media.?Notably, from this list six PhD students and four EMCRs were first authors.?This collaborative effort highlights the institute's dedication to nurture the future and emerging talent within academia, whilst also producing impactful research. You can find more insights into the institute's successes from last year by watching the video below.
1. Jones CMP, Day RO, Koes BW, Latimer J, Maher CG, McLachlan AJ, Billot L, Shan S, Lin CC, Investigators, O, & Coordinators. (2023). Opioid analgesia for acute low back pain and neck pain (the OPAL trial): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet 2023, 402(10398), 304-312.?https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00404-x??
2. Ferreira GE, Abdel-Shaheed C, Underwood M, Finnerup NB, Day RO, McLachlan A, Eldabe S, Zadro JR & Maher CG. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of antidepressants for pain in adults: overview of systematic reviews. BMJ 2023, 380, e072415. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-072415???
3. Wewege MA, Bagg MK, Jones MD, Ferraro MC, Cashin AG, Rizzo RR, Leake HB, Hagstrom AD, Sharma S, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG, Day R, Wand BM, O'Connell NE, Nikolakopolou A, Schabrun S, Gustin SM, & McAuley JH. Comparative effectiveness and safety of analgesic medicines for adults with acute non-specific low back pain: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ 2023, 380, e072962. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-072962???
4. Clemson L, Stark S, Pighills AC, Fairhall NJ, Lamb SE, Ali J & Sherrington C. (2023). Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2023, 3(3), CD013258. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013258.pub2??? This Cochrane review which Cathie was part of made a splash in the media and was picked up by 46 news outlets?and had an Altmetric score of 504 placing it in the 99th percentile.?
5. Liu C, Ferreira GE, Abdel Shaheed C, Chen Q, Harris IA, Bailey CS, Peul WC, Koes B & Lin CC. Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2023, 381, e070730. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-070730???
6. Traeger AC, Gilbert SE, Harris IA, & Maher CG. Spinal cord stimulation for low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD014789.pub2???
7. Abdel Shaheed C, Hayes C, Maher CG, Ballantyne JC, Underwood M, McLachlan AJ, Martin JH, Narayan SW, & Sidhom MA. Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2023; 1-28. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21823???
8. Cashin AG, Wand BM, O'Connell NE, Lee H, Rizzo RRN, Bagg MK, O'Hagan E, Maher CG, Furlan AD, van Tulder MW & McAuley JH. Pharmacological treatments for low back pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023 (4).?https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013815.pub2???
9. Langford AV, Lin CC, Bero L, Blyth FM, Doctor J, Holliday S, Jeon YH, Moullin J, Murnion B, Nielsen S, Osman R, Penm J, Reeve E, Reid S, Wale J, Schneider CR & Gnjidic D. Clinical practice guideline for deprescribing opioid analgesics: summary of recommendations. The Medical Journal of Australia 2023, 219(2), 80-89. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52002???
10. Han CS, Hancock MJ, Sharma S, Sharma S, Harris IA, Cohen SP, Magnussen J, Maher CG & Traeger AC. Low back pain of disc, sacroiliac joint, or facet joint origin: a diagnostic accuracy systematic review. eClinicalMedicine 2023, 59, 101960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101960???
11. Deakin CT, De Stavola BL, Littlejohn G, Griffiths H, Ciciriello S, Youssef P, Mathers D, Bird P, Smith T, O'Sullivan C, Freeman T, Segelov D, Hoffman D, Seaman SR & Network OR. Comparative Effectiveness of Adalimumab vs Tofacitinib in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Australia. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6(6), e2320851. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.20851??
12. Oliveria JS, Gilbert S, Pinheiro MB, Tiedemann A, Macedo LB, Maia L, Kwok W, Hassett L & Sherrington C. Effect of sport on health in people aged 60 years and older: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023, 57(4), 230-236. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105820??
13. Hassett L, McKay MJ, Cole J, Moseley AM, Chagpar S, Geerts M, Kwok WS, Jensen C, Sherrington C & Shields N. Effects of sport or physical recreation for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107123 ????
14. Han CS, Hancock MJ, Downie A, Jarvik JG, Koes BW, Machado GC, Verhagen AP, Williams CM, Chen Q, & Maher CG. Red flags to screen for vertebral fracture in people presenting with low back pain. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2023, 8(8), CD014461. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD014461.pub2???
15. Kwok WS, Dolja-Gore X, Khalatbari-Soltani S, Byles J, Oliveira JS, Pinheiro MB, Naganathan V, Tiedemann A, & Sherrington C. Physical activity and injurious falls in older Australian women: adjusted associations and modification by physical function limitation and frailty in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Age Ageing 2023, 52(6). https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad108??
Please note: IMH staff and students have been bolded