Arthritis Insights

It’s Spring! Time to get out in the garden. There are so many benefits to gardening, it gets you outdoors, moving and is mood boosting. In fact, getting your hands dirty in the garden has been scientifically proven to increase serotonin levels (happy hormones) through contact with specific soil...

Low back pain is a significant burden in terms of pain, disability and loss of quality of life for those who experience it. This is a global problem with data in Australia revealing that a quarter of the population may have it at any one time. The fiscal burden...

By Arthritis Queensland’s Health Promotion Team (September, 2020). There are over 120 different types of arthritis, all of which are treated in different ways. This means that there are also a lot of different drugs available to help people living with arthritis manage their condition. Depending on what type...

Q: I’m wanting to do some strength training but I’m not sure what weights to start on or how many reps I should be doing? A: Understanding the principles of fitness can help you make informed decisions about exercise frequency, intensity, time and type – including what weights and...

Question: Do you have any tips on how to sit with good posture? My doctor told me I need to fix my posture to help with my low back and knee pain. Answer: The short answer is – yes I have some tips but first I’m going to challenge the widespread...

6 August 2020 New Drug Approved for RA Upadacitinib is the third Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor to be approved for rheumatoid arthritis after baricitinib and tofacitinib. Upadacitinib is indicated for patients with moderate–severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not adequately responded, or are intolerant, to at least one or more conventional...

Does weight affect arthritis? The simple answer is yes. Extra body weight increases the stress on many joints, particularly the knees, hips and lower back. There is also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. If you are overweight, losing weight will decrease the...

This month’s Ask Kat was inspired by an Infoline caller describing her troubles in managing her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain and finding it difficult talking to her doctor about asking for medications to help with her pain. First – doctor – patient communication Doctor-patient communication is a fundamental component of...