
Communicating to people with osteoarthritis with Dr Sam Bunzli
06/09/24 • 28 min
Join this week’s conversation with Dr Sam Bunzli which explores how health professionals can better understand and support people with osteoarthritis by moving beyond checklists and truly listening to their stories. We'll debunk common misconceptions about osteoarthritis, such as the belief that pain always means joint damage or that imaging is always necessary and provide evidence-based corrections.
We’ll also discuss the importance of culturally safe care and share resources for improving clinician communication. Finally, we’ll look at how empowering communication and providing the right information, skills, and resources can help individuals manage their osteoarthritis effectively.
Dr Sam Bunzli is a Senior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy who holds a conjoint position between the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at Griffith University and the Physiotherapy Department at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Queensland Australia.
In her program of osteoarthritis research, Dr Bunzli engages the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, and clinicians to advance person-centred communication and inform the design and implementation of interventions that meet their needs and preferences.
Tune in for valuable insights and practical advice on living well with osteoarthritis.
RESOURCES
- The Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual
- Clinical Yarning: www.clinicalyarning.org
- Staying Strong with Osteoarthritis: www.stayingstrongwitharthritis.org.au
- Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy (JOSPT):
Broken Machines or Active Bodies?
Part 1. Ways of Talking About Health and Why It Matters
Part 2: How People Talk About Osteoarthritis and Why Clinicians Need to Change the Conversation
CONNECT WITH US
- Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
- Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
- Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join this week’s conversation with Dr Sam Bunzli which explores how health professionals can better understand and support people with osteoarthritis by moving beyond checklists and truly listening to their stories. We'll debunk common misconceptions about osteoarthritis, such as the belief that pain always means joint damage or that imaging is always necessary and provide evidence-based corrections.
We’ll also discuss the importance of culturally safe care and share resources for improving clinician communication. Finally, we’ll look at how empowering communication and providing the right information, skills, and resources can help individuals manage their osteoarthritis effectively.
Dr Sam Bunzli is a Senior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy who holds a conjoint position between the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at Griffith University and the Physiotherapy Department at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Queensland Australia.
In her program of osteoarthritis research, Dr Bunzli engages the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, and clinicians to advance person-centred communication and inform the design and implementation of interventions that meet their needs and preferences.
Tune in for valuable insights and practical advice on living well with osteoarthritis.
RESOURCES
- The Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual
- Clinical Yarning: www.clinicalyarning.org
- Staying Strong with Osteoarthritis: www.stayingstrongwitharthritis.org.au
- Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy (JOSPT):
Broken Machines or Active Bodies?
Part 1. Ways of Talking About Health and Why It Matters
Part 2: How People Talk About Osteoarthritis and Why Clinicians Need to Change the Conversation
CONNECT WITH US
- Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
- Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
- Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode

The role of the metabolome in osteoarthritis with Prof Ron June and Dr Hope Welhaven
Metabolism plays an important role in our day to day lives. Our metabolism changes over time as we age, with conditions such as osteoarthritis and in people who are above a healthy weight. The study of the small molecules chemicals in biological samples or the study of metabolomics is an emerging field in research. On this week's episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Ron June and Hope Welhaven to discuss the role of the metabolome in osteoarthritis.
Dr Ron June is a Professor and bioengineer based at Montana State University, USA. His research interests include osteoarthritis and biomechanics. He also recently founded a company, OpenBioWorks, seeking to provide commercial metabolomic profiling services.
Dr Hope Welhaven’s research focusses on investigating the metabolism of musculoskeletal tissues during times of health and disease, such as osteoarthritis. She uses mass spectrometry-based techniques including metabolomics and imaging to identify and examine metabolic mechanisms involved in disease progression.
RESOURCES
Journal articles
CONNECT WITH US
- Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
- Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
- Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode

New insights into osteoarthritis pain with Prof Nidhi Sofat
Join us on this week's episode as we delve into the complexities of osteoarthritis pain with Professor Nidhi Sofat. In this episode, we explore the sources of pain in osteoarthritis, from cartilage damage to synovitis and bone marrow lesions. Professor Sofat discusses groundbreaking research on the role of nerves and blood vessels in pain, the significance of bone and synovium in joint health, and the latest findings on gene expression and inflammation. We also cover the different types of pain - nociceptive, inflammatory, nociplastic, and neuropathic - and what this means for treatment. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone affected by osteoarthritis, this episode offers valuable insights into understanding and managing this common yet complex condition.
Nidhi Sofat is a Professor of Rheumatology at St George's, University of London, where she studies what causes pain and inflammation in diseases that affect muscles and joints. Her research takes a hands-on approach, bridging the gap between lab experiments and real-world medical applications.
Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the future of osteoarthritis research and discover how her team's innovative approaches may pave the way for future treatments in osteoarthritis.
RESOURCES
Journal article:
- Can we achieve pain stratification in musculoskeletal conditions? Implications for clinical practice
Previous episodes:
- Why does my knee hurt with Dr. Jason McDougall
- Where does osteoarthritis pain come from ? with Prof Anne-Marie Malfait
CONNECT WITH US
- Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
- Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
- Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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