The AMD3 Foundation Partners With the Center For Bone and Joint Health to Provide Individualized Care Plans for Joint Pain

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates cases of arthritis will increase by 49% between 2010 and 2040. 

Many people live with musculoskeletal conditions for years and only seek help when pain begins to affect their quality of life. The group most keenly affected by these “silent diseases” is women from underserved communities, who may delay care and miss the opportunity to get early treatment. 

The Center for Bone and Joint Health at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital addresses this rising crisis head-on. 

Prior to the pandemic, the AMD3 Foundation partnered with UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital and goShadow to conduct research around gender-specific differences in joint care. Patients were asked about their movement and exercise habits, how they like to consume and receive information, and if they’ve delayed their care. UPMC’s Center for Bone and Joint Health was created as a result of this research and after listening to patients and hospital staff requests, seeking to understand what matters most to them, and identifying what type of care experiences result in the best patient outcomes and quality of life.

At the AMD3 Foundation, we’re continuing this partnership by promoting awareness of gender-specific disparities and by developing audience-specific bone and joint health educational resources that address these issues to support the Center’s educational outreach goals. We encourage and explain non-operative treatment options for anyone aiming to slow the progression of musculoskeletal diseases like arthritis, and to promote the Center for Bone and Joint Health as an option for anyone looking for general wellness resources and early treatment for their joint pain. Some of the Foundation’s educational resources include our Move To Mobility Video Series, which provides helpful information about creating healthy habits while treating joint pain itself. 

The key takeaway gleaned from both patients and providers was that you should not wait to have your joint pain evaluated. There are a number of interventions that can delay and even eliminate the need for joint replacement surgery through early intervention modalities that include movement, diet, and early screening.

The Center for Bone and Joint Health team has developed a personalized care model that brings together patients, providers, and community resources, like those offered from the AMD3 Foundation, to create patient-specific care pathways that listen and act on patients’ stated needs and health goals.

This care model treats the whole person, not merely symptoms like joint pain and loss of mobility. This approach is linked to better outcomes when treating musculoskeletal diseases and simultaneously reduces co-morbidities related to other common health problems. The goal is not just managing your pain, but also improving your quality of life. At the Center, you can enjoy the benefits of a care plan that is built just for you, and best of all this approach centers on the principle of individualized care: listening to patients to understand their experiences, lifestyles, and needs.

Don’t wait until your pain becomes so severe that surgery is the only answer. Learn more about the care and person-centered model that Center for Bone and Joint Health uses to create a personalized care plan that will allow you to live your best life while delaying or preventing surgery.

You can also learn more by clicking the video below to hear Dr. Tony DiGioia discuss the new Center for Bone and Joint Health, the benefits of personalized, nonoperative care plans, and why it's important to get your joint pain evaluated early on this episode of Facebook Friday.