2026
PMRGCAuk Awareness Week 2026 saw three brilliant talks take place across the week, covering exercise, new clinical guidelines, and a landmark new book.
We would like to thank Dr Anne O’Brien, Reader in Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Professions & Pharmacy, Keele University; Dr Max Yates, Associate Professor, School and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, Norwich Medical School and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital; and Dr Kate Gilbert and Dr Vanessa Quick, co-authors of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide.
Dr Anne O’Brien opened the week by talking about exercise with PMR/GCA and launching our Marathon in a Month (MiaM) 2026 campaign. As the principal investigator and lead author of our exercise booklet Maintaining Movement, Activity and Exercise with PMR, Anne brought her expertise not just in the UK but internationally, sharing valuable insight for people living with PMR and GCA.
You can access our booklet Maintaining Movement, Activity and Exercise with PMR here.
You can find out more details about how to get started here: https://pmrgca.org.uk/every-step-counts-pmrgcauk-marathon-in-a-month-is-back/
Dr Max Yates joined us to introduce the new BSR PMR guidelines. As one of the co-leads on the development of the new British Society for Rheumatology guidelines, Max talked us through the process of developing the guidelines and what has changed for patients in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management, including tapering.
Our final session was a very special one, an interview with Dr Kate Gilbert and Dr Vanessa Quick to mark the launch of the third edition of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide. Dr Kate Gilbert is a founding member of PMRGCAuk, former chair of the charity, and author of all three editions of the survival guide. Dr Vanessa Quick is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Bedfordshire Hospitals, Trustee of PMRGCAuk, and co-author of the third edition.
Together, they shared what has changed since the last edition, the challenges of writing and updating the book, and the new information it contains.
A copy of the book is available to buy using either of the links below:
Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: A survival guide eBook : Gilbert, Kate, Quick, Vanessa: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store (Kindle or Paperback)
Buy Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide
If purchasing from a high street bookshop, please use ISBN 978 1066 664603
2025
Over the past few years we have had some absolutely brilliant webinars on PMR, GCA and related topics. PMRGCAuk Week 2025 saw three talks take place over a couple of weeks.
We would like to thank Dr Mark Hughes, Rheumatology Consultant Royal Cornwall Trust with a Diploma in Sports Medicine; Professor Toby Helliwell, Professor of General Practice and Primary Care lead in Global Health, Honorary Professor of General Practice Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; and Dr Susan Mollan, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham and a Consultant Neuro-Opthalmologist.
Dr Mark Hughes launched our 2025 Marathon in a Month campaign by talking about the benefits of exercise in managing polymyalgia rheumatica. He shared some really valuable insight into the effects of exercise on the body and how to differentiate between delayed onset muscle stiffness following exercise and flare up of PMR symptoms.
You can access our booklet Maintaining Movement, Activity and Exercise with PMR here.
Professor Toby Helliwell gave an insightful talk about the challenges of managing PMR in Primary care – a common discussion topic among our members.
Our final talk came from Dr Susan Mollan, who gave a really in depth talk about exactly how giant cell arteritis causes sight loss and what to look out for.
We have other webinars throughout the year which are open to members of the charity. If you are not a member but would like to be, you can sign up here or email charon@pmrgca.org.uk .
