Supporting people through timely, high quality, person centred care and support, and the confidence and knowledge to manage their health.
Why this matters
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are long term conditions that people live with every day, not just when they are in contact with healthcare services. Supporting people to live well with MSK conditions therefore requires more than clinical treatment. It requires care that is shaped around people’s lives, priorities and goals.
Better MSK care means ensuring people can access the right support at the right time, experience coordinated care across services and receive support that focuses on outcomes that matter to them, including function, independence and participation.
Person centred care means recognising people as partners in their care, supporting shared decision making and ensuring people have access to the information, support and services they need to manage their condition effectively.
Supported self-management is a vital part of good MSK care. When people are supported to understand their condition and manage symptoms, they are more likely to remain active, maintain independence and experience better outcomes.
Timely access to assessment, advice and treatment is equally important. Delays in MSK care can lead to avoidable deterioration, loss of function and increased pressure on other parts of the health and care system.
Integrated pathways are essential because people with MSK conditions often require support from multiple professionals and services. Poor coordination can lead to duplication, gaps in care and worse outcomes.
Improving MSK care offers important opportunities to:
- Improve quality of life
- Support independence and participation
- Reduce avoidable deterioration
- Improve experience of care
- Reduce pressure on health and care services
- Improve functional and participation outcomes.
Supporting people to live well with MSK conditions is essential to improving healthy life expectancy, reducing inequalities and ensuring care delivers what matters most to people.
Our position
ARMA believes better MSK care should be built on person centred principles and a strong focus on outcomes.
People living with MSK conditions are experts in their own lives. Effective care should recognise this expertise and support people to make informed decisions about their health and care.
We believe good MSK care should:
- Be shaped around what matters to the person
- Support shared decision making
- Provide timely access to the right care and advice
- Deliver coordinated care across services and settings
- Provide access to clear and trustworthy information
- Support self-management as a core part of care
- Recognise the role of peer support and community resources
- Focus on maintaining function, participation and independence
- Measure outcomes that matter to people as well as clinical outcomes.
Supported self-management does not mean leaving people to manage alone. It means ensuring people have access to the right support, at the right time, from the right professionals and community resources.
ARMA believes supported self-management should be recognised as a core component of high quality MSK care rather than an optional add on.
We also believe MSK services should move beyond activity measures alone and focus more consistently on outcomes such as function, quality of life and ability to participate in work, education and community life.
Our focus
ARMA is working with members and partners to strengthen better MSK care through several key priorities.
Embedding person-centred approaches
Promoting care models that start with people’s goals, preferences and daily lives rather than focusing solely on clinical pathways.
Improving timely access
Promoting early assessment, rapid advice and appropriate triage so people can access the right support before problems escalate.
Strengthening integrated pathways
Supporting better coordination between primary care, community services, specialist services and rehabilitation so care feels joined up from the patient perspective.
Improving information and health literacy
Supporting access to clear, evidence based information that helps people understand their condition and treatment options.
Strengthening peer and community support
Recognising the important role of peer networks, patient organisations and community groups in supporting people to live well.
Supporting workforce capability
Promoting skills development across the MSK workforce to support personalised care conversations, behaviour change, shared decision making and supported self-management.
Integrating MSK into neighbourhood health
Supporting neighbourhood approaches that connect clinical care with community resources that help people remain active and independent.
Improving outcomes and experiences
Encouraging services to focus on outcomes that matter to people, including pain, function, participation and quality of life.
Through this work, ARMA aims to ensure people living with MSK conditions are supported not just to receive care, but to live well.
Key
resources
ARMA has a long history of promoting person centred care and supported self-management as core principles of MSK care.
Core ARMA policy work
ARMA Policy Position Paper on Supported Self-Management (2018). (pdf download)
- Supported Self-Management
Work in development
We will review and refresh ARMA’s supported self-management position during 2026.
Related insights
Our latest insights on better MSK care include:
- Blogs on living well with MSK conditions
- News and events relating to personalised care
- Member initiatives supporting self-management
- Examples of integrated MSK services.
These insights highlight the importance of supporting people to remain active, independent and confident in managing their MSK health.
-web-300x200.jpg)
