National Musculoskeletal (MSK) Meeting 2018

New Delhi, 1^st & 2^nd December 2018: Hemophilia Federation (India), HFI in association with Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation (NNHF) organized a National Level Musculoskeletal Workshop (MSK Workshop) as part of the MSK Project headed by Dr. Pamela Narayan (Consultant Physiotherapist & MSK Project Lead) at Lemon Tree Hotel, IGI Airport Aerocity Hospitality District, New Delhi.
Mrs. Vinita Sirvastava (National Co-ordinator, Blood Cell, NHM) was the Chief Guest on the occasion and the Guest of Honor was Dr. Greig Blamey (Canada), Chair, MSK Committee, World Federation of Hemophilia. The Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation was represented by Mr. Shady Sedhom, Programme Manager, NNHF for Africa, Middle and Near East and Caucasus. It was a comprehensive meeting involving physiotherapists, physicians and orthopaedics. As part of the MSK Project deliverables, education material such as exercise guide and physiotherapy videos will also be prepared and shared country-wide among the stakeholders.
The physiotherapists trained in skills to treat Hemophilia, can be of use to the society at large and utilize their skills to treat general population for arthritis and pain management. The physiotherapists were not only educated but they exchanged experiences in treatment and management of MSK complications in Hemophilia. Mrs. Vinita Srivastava appreciated the role of HFI in promoting research and training. She took note of the challenges/suggestions and assured support from the Health Ministry.
The 2^nd day of meeting begin with talk by Dr. Greig on "MSK Assessment Tools" and followed by a live workshop in which 10-12 Hemophilia patients were assessed on their musculoskeletal morbidities and disabilities. All the physiotherapists gave their feedbacks and received participation certificates.

MSK Project
The project is almost 3 years old now and is in its 3^rd Phase. In the build up to this National workshop 8 regional workshops were held earlier in all the four regions (North, East, South & West) of the country. In the regional workshops, in addition to training on musculoskeletal morbidities, the Physiotherapists were also trained on using an online MSK Registry to help gather more information about the MSK problems among C/PwHs of our country.
The MSK Project raised awareness and promoted the use of an online registry where recorded data of Musculoskeletal morbidity and Bleed reports etc. is being kept online so physiotherapists can have regular access to it.
Many PwHs suffer from frequent joint and muscle bleeds resulting in pain and disability due to a lack of clotting factor concentrates. As a result, Physiotherapy is the only inexpensive way to treat and PREVENT joint/muscle bleeds in Hemophilia. An expert Physiotherapist aware of Hemophilia will be helpful in strengthening muscles of PwH in a factor scarce country like ours. More MSK professionals are required to meet the needs of PwHs in a vast country such as ours. This forum has brought together like minded MSK professionals with an interest in bleeding disorders.