Bristol Bones and Joints HIT 2023-24

Co-design with patients who feel socially isolated to manage their painful joints safely

The HIT has piloted a new movement to music programme co-designed by participants. The programme helps people over 45 who have pain in their hips and knees to manage their condition safely. The idea came from HIT public contributors concerned that the ‘wrong’ kind of movement could damage their joints.

The eight-week co-designed programme ran at the Trinity Centre in Bristol, where seven people from the local community took part in fun hour-long sessions, creating movement to music, supported by an experienced dance practitioner and a qualified physiotherapist. Now that the HIT has shown this approach has been effective in increasing people’s confidence to move and be more active, it is exploring further funding avenues to continue classes at Trinity.

Evaluating use of self-management apps in treatment plans

An app to help people with inflammatory arthritis manage their condition more effectively, developed by the HIT with NHS Charities Together funding, is now being offered routinely to patients attending rheumatology appointments at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and North Bristol NHS Trust.

Living Well with Arthritis is one of a range of apps North Bristol NHS Trust adopted when in-person appointments were restricted during the pandemic. The HIT is applying for funding to explore patients’ use of these apps.

Listening to and learning from people with lived experience

In September, the HIT hosted an information and discussion afternoon at BAWA Health and Leisure Club in Southmead for people living locally with a condition affecting their bones and joints. Attendees were encouraged to share their views on research priorities for managing their conditions better. Topics they raised included better management of fatigue, food and self-management and mental health support. Everyone who came along expressed an interest in finding out more about the HIT and how to become more involved.

The HIT’s online public contributor coffee morning also continues to be popular.

Enabling funding in 2023-24

Bristol Bones and Joints HIT helped secure £2,636,498 in 2023-24 for projects to generate research evidence, improve outcomes and address health inequalities.