Allied health professionals play crucial roles in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal diseases as well as in preclinical and clinical bone research. In recognition of their important role, at the ECTS 2022 congress two educational sessions will be specifically dedicated to allied health professionals (AHPs). AHP-Seminar 1 (Sunday, May 8th, 9:00 – 11:00) will start with an introduction to bone biology by Martina Rauner; I will continue with a presentation of current techniques to assess bone density and the microarchitecture of bone. In the next talk, Heikki Kröger will explain how bone biopsies are performed, how they are assessed and how the findings can influence the management of patients. In today’s clinical practice bone turnover markers (e.g. markers of bone formation or bone resorption) are frequently determined. Pawel Szulc will introduce typical markers and discuss their interpretation.
Building upon the physiology and assessment of bone as presented in the first session, the focus of AHP-Seminar 2 (Sunday, May 8th, 13:10 – 14:30) is the treatment and management of patients. Adalbert Raimann will present the evolving field of pediatric osteology and review the diagnosis and treatment of bone diseases in children and adolescents. In the past years, our knowledge on the prevention of fragility fractures in adults has improved significantly. Polyzois Makras will deliver a state-of-the-art lecture on the current treatment of osteoporosis. Finally, Pauliina Tamminen will share her expertise as an osteoporosis nurse and delineate the AHP’s role in the management of patients.
More details about the AHP-sessions are available at the congress website. I am very much looking forward to meet you in Helsinki.