Living well with arthritis

Support and enable people living with arthritis

At the heart of our mission is our goal to support and enable people with arthritis to live fulfilling, independent lives. We want to empower everyone with an MSK condition to be in control of their physical health and find employment that suits them at any age.

Finding and staying in work can be a significant challenge for someone with arthritis, particularly as they age. This is due to the barriers they face from employers, the fluctuating nature of their condition and a lack of adjustments in the workplace that allow them to work effectively.

People with arthritis earn on average £1,478 less than those without the condition and arthritis and MSK conditions are among the leading causes of workplace absence in the UK, accounting for 23.4 million days lost in work in 2022. This is projected to cost the UK economy £3.43 billion by 2030.

While there has been some progress in recent years, we believe much more can be done by the Government, employers and existing schemes to support those with arthritis in the workplace.

Read a blog about what helps people with arthritis remain in work: New report  urges government to help people with long-term conditions remain in work

The most important part of living an independent life with arthritis is being physically active. Arthritis UK has developed a wealth of resources on effective exercise for all ages and abilities to ensure a pain free, active life. We also advise and closely work with the Government, third sector partners and health services to ensure they are aware of the relationship between exercise, musculoskeletal health and health outcomes across the UK.