Courses at AStretch

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Physiotherapy Assessment
& Mangement Workshop

Friday 16th & Saturday 17th July 2010

Winchester £145

Closing date: 1st July 2010

For application contact Ros Parker. Email: rosalind.parker@wehct.nhs.uk or phone 01962 824917

This weekend workshop has a high content of practical work in the physiotherapy gym and hydrotherapy pool. Topics covered also include: Pathology, Aetiology, Psychosocial Issues, outcome measures (including application of the Bath Indices)

Extensive work book provide to all applicants.

Course Tutors: Claire Jeffries MSCP & Karen Irons MCSP, MSc

This workshop is open to physiotherapists and technicians working in rheumatology, with local NASS groups or those who have an interest in AS

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Physiotherapy Assessment and Management Workshop

Friday 14 May 2010 and Saturday 15 May 2010

RHCH Winchester, Hampshire

£145.00.

Early Bird offer of £135 if paid by 23 April 2010

Course Tutors: Claire Jeffries MSCP and Karen Irons MCSP, MSc

This weekend has a high practical content in gym and hydrotherapy pool.  Topics covered include pathology, aetiology, psychological issues and outcome measures (including application of the Bath Indices)

Extensive workbook provided to all applicants.

This workshop is open to physiotherapists working in rheumatology, with local NASS groups or those who have an interest in AS

For application contact Ros Parker.  Email: rosalind.parker@wehct.nhs.uk or phone 01962 824917

Tea and coffee provided

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AS workshop 23/24 April 2009
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth

This two day AS course held at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth was attended by 17 physiotherapists (including one physiotherapy assistant) working in NASS groups nationwide.  The course was designed to provide physiotherapists working with AS patients a greater understanding of the disease and what role they play in helping to manage it. There was a wide variety of topics on AS covered from theory in the classroom to practical sessions in the gym and hydrotherapy pool. The course was run by Karen Irons and Claire Jeffries, both senior NHS physiotherapists who have many years experience running NASS groups. 

The course covered the symptoms of the disease and its progression: Karen drew on her extensive experience in this area and gave an in depth presentation to the group.

The important role a physiotherapist plays in helping a patient manage their AS was covered.  The main areas outlined were pain management; liaising with rheumatologists; prescription of strengthening and stretching exercises and low impact work outs; home programmes specific to the needs and abilities of the patient, general education regarding daily life and encouraging the joining of a NASS group in the area.

The psychosocial influences upon AS were also discussed with regards to barriers to exercise i.e. physical, emotional and ‘other’ factors. 

The group was split into three teams and each team was tasked with identifying the elements involved in each type of barrier to exercise.  The feedback included pain during exercise as a physical barrier. Emotionally there can often be anger and frustration as the disease is usually diagnosed at an age when most demands are being made on time i.e. career and family.

 The ‘other’ factors which can influence exercise included time-trying to fit the exercises in to daily life, lack of facilities and also transport to facilities. Karen stressed that the role of the physiotherapist was to help overcome these barriers and motivate patients to exercise. Karen encouraged the physiotherapists to talk to their patients regarding the benefits of exercise. Possible solutions to all of these problems were discussed, and suggestions were made as to how physiotherapists can help their patients through time management strategies, pain management, relaxation methods and reward systems.

Each team was asked to think about the advantages, difficulties and disadvantages of group exercises.  The physiotherapists felt the advantages to being in a group meant it was more fun and the patients were spurred on by each other. It was felt one of the difficulties facing exercise is trying to achieve a homogenous group where abilities in the group were well matched. One of the main disadvantages, the physiotherapists reported, were some individuals may prefer to exercise alone. However the advantages clearly outweighed the disadvantages and many difficulties could be overcome.

During the theory, the history of how the four Bath indices were developed was discussed. The physiotherapists were briefed on how to use the indices so that they can be incorporated into a NASS group and patients can be regularly monitored.

The medical management of AS was discussed, highlighting the benefit of drug therapies in allowing the patient to exercise more easily once pain is decreased.

Four practical sessions were taught covering land based exercises (2 sessions) and hydrotherapy (2 sessions) specific to AS patients. The land based exercises included partner stretches in the gym and gymnastic ball work to aid in muscle work and also the additional effects of maintaining balance. The hydrotherapy sessions incorporated stretches, strengthening exercises and games that could be used during classes. The importance of making the NASS sessions fun using an array of exercises and games was highlighted.  

All course attendees are provided with a detailed handbook which can be used as a reference on future occasions.

This informal environment but well structured course allowed for the physiotherapists to effectively network and share their experiences working in a NASS group.

Karen Irons

I would like to give our special thanks to Karen and Claire for all their hard work in the organisation and running of this course.  I know how valuable these courses are to the physiotherapists who take NASS groups and for this course NASS was to able to provide financial support for those physios who would otherwise not have been able to attend. Profits from the course are then used to purchase equipment that can be utilised by the local NASS group and Physiotherapy Department who hosted the course.

If your NASS group or local physiotherapy department would like to host a course in your area, or attend one in Portsmouth, please contact Karen and Claire via the AStretch website (through the NASS website) or directly on Karen.Irons@porthosp.nhs.uk, or  the director at NASS on director@nass.co.uk

Jane Skerrett

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