Management and Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Overview

Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is frequently missed or misdiagnosed in primary care, with an average diagnostic delay of 9 years in Canada. Many patients are incorrectly managed as having mechanical back pain, leading to prolonged suffering, disability, and reduced quality of life. A key factor in this delay is the limited awareness of AxSpA and inflammatory back pain among outpatient healthcare providers.

💡 Why This Matters:
By improving recognition and referral pathways, you can play a direct role in reducing the diagnostic delay for AxSpA patients, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life.

📢 Call to Action:
Join this course to enhance your clinical skills and help close the diagnostic gap for AxSpA patients.

Let’s change the trajectory of AxSpA care in Canada.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

1. 1. Understand the pathophysiology, clinical features, and progression of Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpa).
   2. Identify key diagnostic criteria and distinguish AxSpA from mechanical back pain in a primary care setting.
   3. Utilize targeted subjective questioning and screening tools to improve timely recognition and specialist referral.
   4. Equip patients with knowledge, movement strategies, and long-term management tools to support their condition.

Audience

This course is designed for physiotherapists and other first contact practitioners who assess and manage patients with persistent back pain in primary care settings.

While tailored to physical therapists, the content is highly relevant to any healthcare professional involved in early identification, referral, and management of AxSpA.