1. Supporting people with axial spondyloarthritis
Sally Dickinson
Head of Information and Support Services

2. About NASS
Only charity in the UK dedicated to axial SpA (AS) community
Started in 1976
3 main aims:
To provide guidance, advice and information for people affected, including families, carers and employers
To promote awareness in the UK
To seek a cure and improve treatment in the UK

3. www.nass.co.uk What is AS? New to AS Exercise Medication
Living with AS
In Your Area
Resources

4. New to AS
Your AS Journey
NICE Spondyloarthritis Guideline

5. Young people www.asone.nass.co.uk Online community
Covering range of issues
Guest bloggers share experiences

6. Videos
You Tube Channel (National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society)
videos on how AS is managed with GP, rheumatologist, physiotherapist and people with AS
2017 What is AS? Ankylosing Spondylitis – Not just back pain Managing your AS
2016 Leaving room for your golf balls Top tips for managing your AS Checking your posture

7. Publications Guides rewritten and redesigned Re-issued in early July
Free for HCPs and patients
Living well with axial SpA (AS)
Managing my axial SpA (AS) flares
Managing my axial SpA (AS) fatigue
Managing my axial SpA (AS) at work (including Employers Guide to working with axial SpA (AS))
Biologic therapy for axial SpA (AS)
Managing my uveitis

8. 0208 741 1515 Helpline Respond to over 5,000 contacts each year
Phone, , Facebook, Twitter
Can now contact us by message from Helpline page
Medication, treatment, diagnosis, exercise, benefits, work
Supported by Medical Advisory Board
Our Helpline runs Monday to Friday –officially 9 till 12. We aim to reassure people and leave them with a clear plan of action no matter what they contact us about. Our aim is get get back to everyone ideally within 1 working day or, 2 working days at the latest

9. Supporting exercise
Back to Action Parts 1 and 2 (Part 2 – Gym balls & free weights)
Fight Back DVD
New videos launched in autumn 2019
We have two exercise guides – Back to Action parts 1 & 2. These are available as hard copies in our shop, online videos on our You Tube channel and as a free App. They are aimed at people who feel more confident at exercising by themselves in the gym
Our Fight Back DVD was released a number of years ago and re-published in We will probably aim to replace it over the next couple f years. It’s aimed at people with more advanced AS whho want to exercise at home and comprises 6 exercise programmes with 35 individual exercises including hip safe exercises.
Our NASS branches aim to offer regular supervised physiotherapy sessions around the UK.
As an example, our Leicester Branch offers physiotherapy and hydrotherapy every Monday evening at the Leicester General Hospital.

10. NASS Branches NASS Croydon
Provide regular guided physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
NASS Croydon
Croydon University Hospital
Tuesdays 17:15 to 19:45
Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
Self-referral
£8 per session or £30 a month by standing order
We have two exercise guides – Back to Action parts 1 & 2. These are available as hard copies in our shop, online videos on our You Tube channel and as a free App. They are aimed at people who feel more confident at exercising by themselves in the gym
Our Fight Back DVD was released a number of years ago and re-published in We will probably aim to replace it over the next couple f years. It’s aimed at people with more advanced AS whho want to exercise at home and comprises 6 exercise programmes with 35 individual exercises including hip safe exercises.
Our NASS branches aim to offer regular supervised physiotherapy sessions around the UK.
As an example, our Leicester Branch offers physiotherapy and hydrotherapy every Monday evening at the Leicester General Hospital.

11. Developed an eLearning module for RCGP website
Free to access for RCGP members and provides CPD points
Includes diagnosing and managing axial SpA