One of the most important issues today in osteoarthritis is that younger individuals are being diagnosed with osteoarthritis and face living over half their lives with a chronic painful and disabling condition. Furthermore, clinicians are placed in a challenging position because there are few optimal therapeutic choices to manage their joint symptoms and slow or prevent the onset or progression of osteoarthritis.

2.     How is your organization working to address this issue or other issues related to OA?

The Athletic Trainers’ Osteoarthritis Consortium (ATOAC) is an international consortium of athletic trainers and other health professionals committed to promoting collaboration in osteoarthritis-related research and education (for example, biomechanics, imaging, and biochemical markers of joint health). Furthermore, the consortium is committed to elevating awareness about osteoarthritis within the sports medicine community; including clinicians, physically active individuals, and their families. Finally, the consortium is focused on improving clinical management strategies and patient education among physically active individuals that may be at increased risk for osteoarthritis development and progression. In short, our mission is to raise awareness, promote research, and advance best practices in the prevention and management of osteoarthritis.

3.     What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?

We envision a time when athletic trainers and other clinicians engage in primary and secondary osteoarthritis prevention as well as managing osteoarthritis. By raising awareness about osteoarthritis within the sports medicine community we hope to encourage people to recognize the short- and long- term benefits of injury prevention programs. Hence, a headline we’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years is “[Insert National Youth Sport Organization] Launches National Injury Prevention Program.”

4.     What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?

The ATOAC helps researchers, educators, continuing education providers, and conference organizers identify ATOAC members who can speak about osteoarthritis among physically active individuals that may be at increased risk for osteoarthritis development and progression.

5. What is your interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance?

The ATOAC is committed to the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance because we believe deeply in the need to elevate osteoarthritis as a national health priority and promoting effective policy solutions that address the individuals and national toll of osteoarthritis, especially among physically active individuals that may be at increased risk for osteoarthritis development and progression.