Training courses for healthcare professionals

MSK training for health and care professionals

From our State of Musculoskeletal Health report, we know 20 million people in the UK live with a musculoskeletal condition and that prevalence is increasing.  Being that one in seven GP consultations are related to MSK conditions, it is vital that health and care professionals of all disciplines are equipped with the skills, knowledge, information and life-long learning needed to support patients to live the life they want.

However, we also hear health and care professionals can lack the skills and confidence to effectively support patients living with MSK conditions. This is why Arthritis UK has created our MSK training session series. These sessions are designed to increase confidence, knowledge and skills in MSK care to ensure patients receive high quality-care.

If you work within a Vocational Training Scheme, ICB, GP partnership, or another organisation working with health and care professionals, we can organise a workshop specifically for you and your team. Please contact Donna Andrew, Healthcare Professional Training and Education Manager for more details d.andrew@arthritis-uk.org.

Upcoming training sessions

  • Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care plus MSK Bitesize
    We don't have any training sessions scheduled at the moment, but you can register your interest to be notified when new dates become available. Please email ProfessionalEngagement@arthritis-uk.org with the subject line: 'I'm interested: Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care’.
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) Bitesize
    Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6-9pm | Book your place
  • Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care Digital Course
    We don't have any training sessions scheduled at the moment, but you can register your interest to be notified when new dates become available. Please email ProfessionalEngagement@arthritis-uk.org with the subject line: 'I'm interested: Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care Digital Course'.
  • Managing Chronic Pain in Primary Care
    We don't have any training sessions scheduled at the moment, but you can register your interest to be notified when new dates become available. Please email ProfessionalEngagement@arthritis-uk.org with the subject line: 'I'm interested: Managing chronic pain in primary care'.
  • Is it inflammatory arthritis or fibromyalgia syndrome?
    We don't have any training sessions scheduled at the moment, but you can register your interest to be notified when new dates become available. Please email ProfessionalEngagement@arthritis-uk.org with the subject line: ‘I'm interested: Inflammatory Arthritis or Fibromyalgia Webinar’.

SKILLs Sessions

Arthritis UK is launching a pilot of SKILLs Sessions: a fully funded webinar series designed for health and care professionals.

We recognise the challenges you may face in keeping up with the latest evidence and best practices in MSK care. Our goal is to support your professional development, so you can concentrate on delivering the highest quality of care.

Topics are informed by our SKILLs Community, ensuring we cover the most in-demand subjects.

View the video below to see Core SKILLS in action

Core Skills MSK Training

Browse our MSK training sessions to find the right learning for you.

Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care

This in-person session focuses on developing the practical skills required in a typical 10-minute primary care MSK consultation.

This full-day training combines expert lectures with practical, small-group workshops to boost your confidence and skills in a supportive, hands-on environment.

You'll get hands-on practice with history taking, examination, and communication in three key areas:

  • Low back pain and sciatica
  • Lower limb (with a focus on the knee)
  • Upper limb (with a focus on the shoulder)

The session costs £220. You will receive a course handbook, a certificate of completion, the course slides and earn 7 CPD points.

Please note: Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care also includes the MSK Bitesize webinar. This will add-on 3 CPD points.

Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care Digital Series

This webinar series focuses on developing the practical skills required in a typical 10-minute primary care MSK consultation. This online course is delivered over four weeks with two-hour sessions via Microsoft Teams. It provides a supportive environment for primary health and care professionals to develop confidence and skills in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with MSK conditions.

Through a combination of trainer demonstrations and patient case studies, you will practice history taking, examination, and communication skills across four key areas:

  • Session 1: Introduction to musculoskeletal conditions, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia
  • Session 2: Low back pain and sciatica
  • Session 3: Lower limb (with a focus on the knee)
  • Session 4: Upper limb (with a focus on the shoulder)

The course costs £160. You will receive the course handbook, a certificate of completion, the course slides and 8 CPD points. A recording of the webinar will also be sent to all registered delegates for convenient, on-demand review for 60 days.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Bitesize

A 3-hour webinar that focuses on different MSK conditions presenting in primary care.  

This 3-hour webinar provides a comprehensive, yet concise guide on a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions presenting in primary care.

The course covers key conditions that you may encounter daily, including:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Gout
  • Inflammatory arthritis
  • Lupus
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Myeloma
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Hypermobility
  • Paediatric MSK

In addition to condition-specific guidance, a dedicated section explores the vital role of physical activity in both preventing and managing MSK conditions to support overall patient well-being.

Managing Chronic Pain in Primary Care

A session that covers NICE guidelines and consultation skills to manage difficult interactions.

Managing chronic pain can be one of the most difficult aspects of primary care, often leading to dissatisfaction for both you and your patients. This two-hour session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to navigate these consultations.

The course provides a clear, evidence-based framework to help you improve patient outcomes and feel more confident in your approach. The session covers:

  • An outline of the latest NICE guidelines and what they mean for you and your patients.
  • New consultation skills to help manage difficult interactions.
  • The principles of medication use in chronic pain.

This session costs £40. You will receive 2 CPD points and the course slides. A recording of the webinar will also be sent to all registered delegates for convenient, on-demand review for 60 days.

Is it Inflammatory Arthritis or Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

A training webinar designed to help you confidently differentiate between these conditions in a primary care setting.

Differentiating between inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia syndrome is a difficult skill in a primary care setting, but this two-hour webinar is designed to give you the confidence to do so effectively.

By focusing on key distinctions, you can ensure patients receive the correct diagnosis and appropriate care, leading to better outcomes for both the patient and the NHS.

The session covers:

  • The clues in the history and examination that will help.
  • How to use investigations sensibly and cost-effectively.
  • How to communicate and explain the diagnosis.
  • How to facilitate self-management, including various types of patient information.

This session costs £35. On completion, you will receive 2 CPD points and the course slides. A recording of the webinar will also be sent to all registered delegates for convenient, on-demand review for 60 days.