15th October 2024
Brand Ambassador Sharron Davies MBE gives national TV interview for World Arthritis Day 2024
Here, at Contura Orthopaedics, World Arthritis Day (October 12th) is an important date to mark to help shine a light on the experiences of people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
This global campaign also provides a topical platform to reflect on the launch earlier this year of an important new report which explores the social and economic impact of knee osteoarthritis. The report Under Pressure: A Report on the State of the Nation’s Knees brings together the opinions and insights of some of the world’s leading orthopaedic experts, alongside the real-life experiences of patients who have successfully sought a solution to the chronic pain and immobility associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
So, we were delighted when our Brand Ambassador Sharron Davies was invited to talk to GB News to give viewers an insight into her treatment with Arthrosamid® and the improvements to pain and mobility that she continues to experience two years on.
| During the interview, Sharron highlighted some of the key findings of a national opinion poll1 - commissioned by Contura Orthopaedics Ltd – which reflect the levels of anxiety surrounding joint problems and a worrying misconception of “inevitability”, with 80% of respondents fearing that joint pain is just an unavoidable part of getting older. 67% of people go on to say it was their “biggest concern” about ageing, above dental issues (37%) or hair loss (26%). |
How can knee osteoarthritis affect your quality of life?
Almost a quarter of people (22%) questioned said that joint pain makes it harder for them to sleep or take part in pastimes such as gardening or golf - but when asked about effective ways of managing their pain, almost half (48%) said that they worry about the long-term effect of prescribed pain killers.1
Nick Gregg (61) from South Wales, was treated with Arthrosamid in June 2022. He says; “It was a total revelation. I literally felt as though I was walking around with cushion padding in my knees! It really is no exaggeration to say that Arthrosamid® can give you your life back – particularly if a large part of your life revolves around playing golf!
“Talking to many friends who also enjoy the game as much as I do, golfers of a certain age seem prone to knee issues which can eventually lead to the chronic pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. This is due to our swing, twisting and turning and the huge amount of walking we do on every round we play, often up and down hills and slopes – but none of us ever want to give up our golf, or resort to the buggy.”
What’s the economic impact of knee osteoarthritis?
It is estimated that 10 million people live with osteoarthritis and from these figures, it can be extrapolated that about 5.4 million of those people are living with this degenerative disease in their knees2. And, each year in the UK, an estimated 350,000 people will be diagnosed with osteoarthritis, with 55 being the average age when symptoms are noticed2.
With much of the UK population now working well into their 60s, and even 70s, the active workforce includes a significant number who are trying to manage their osteoarthritic knees. It’s believed that someone with arthritis is 20% less likely to be in work than someone without the condition – creating a negative economic impact2.
This is reflected by key survey findings featured in the “Under Pressure” report, which show that more than one in five people (23%) say they “can’t afford to take the time off work to recover from knee surgery”1.
| So, standing alongside many charities and campaigning organisations who are using World Arthritis Day as an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for better patient outcomes, Contura Orthopaedics is proud to proclaim that “osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing” and to encourage people in pain to explore non-invasive alternatives to surgery. |
Indeed, patients and healthcare professionals alike are now calling for greater awareness and improved access to nonsurgical, treatment options. And, as the new report highlights, the published research around the cutting-edge injectable hydrogel Arthrosamid® is hugely encouraging, delivering long-lasting respite from the pain and immobility of knee osteoarthritis (even four years post-treatment), without the need for surgery.3
Rakesh Tailor, CEO of Contura Orthopaedics comments; “The story of Arthrosamid® is a fascinating one – and what better time to revisit it and to flag up just how far we’ve come than on World Arthritis Day! First used in the veterinary world to treat lame horses some 15 years ago, Arthrosamid is now used in a pioneering way to treat the ‘human knees’ which are being damaged by osteoarthritis – and already, in less than three years, more than 10,000 people across Europe have had Arthrosamid® injected into their knees.” 4
“Far too many people know the painful reality of living with osteoarthritis in their knee -and it’s therefore so heartening to see that so many people are becoming taking positive steps to reducing the pain and discomfort associated with this often-debilitating condition. The aim of our new report is to highlight the plight of these patients struggling with access to treatment options in the UK. We understand that although doctors will be doing their best for their patients there has, until recently, been a lack of options they can offer their patients with osteoarthritic knees. We’re determined to do all we can to change that.”
Arthrosamid® is the first and only approved injectable treatment that permanently combines with the knee’s synovial tissue5 - decreasing joint stiffness, diminishing pain, improving the function of the knee, and enhancing quality of life.3,6,7 With joint replacement surgery having previously been the only option for those with late-stage knee OA, Arthrosamid® is widely acknowledged as redefining treatment for patients living with knee pain. Arthrosamid® is administered via a simple, one-step procedure performed under local anaesthesia by a qualified physician, such as an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist8— ensuring you’re in and out of the clinic the same day.
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References:
1. An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 1,504 respondents from across the UK. The research fieldwork took place on 11th March – 12th March 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.
2. Versus Arthritis: 2023 State of MSK Health Report.
3. Bliddal, H., et al. (2024) A Prospective Study of Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: Results From 4 Years After Treatment. Presented at EORS 2024, Aalborg and Orthopaedic Proceedings of the Bone & Joint Journal.
4. Data on file.
5. Christensen, L., et al. (2016). Histological Appearance of the Synovial Membrane after Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Polyacrylamide Gel Injections: A Case Report. Journal of Arthritis. Vol 5: 217.
6. Bliddal, H., et al. (2021) Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: A 6 Months Prospective Study. J Orthop Res Ther. Vol 6 (2). 1188. ISSN 2575-8241.
7. Bliddal H, et al. (2024). Polyacrylamide gel versus hyaluronic acid for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled study. Clin Exp Rheumatol; 42(9):1729-1735.
8. Arthrosamid®, Instructions For Use. Release Date March 2022. 10082-003.