TOGETHER TODAY!
ENDING AGEISM
GETTING A SECOND OPINION
MOVING EVERY DAY
WATCHING LESS TV
FINDING SWIM CLASSES
TAKING MORE CONTROL
ENDING WEIGHTISM
LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC KNEE PAIN
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
PUSHING BACK ON DISCRIMINATION
ENDING RACISM
TELLING PEOPLE HOW WE FEEL
HELPING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO HELP US
ENDING SEXISM
CUTTING OUT SUGAR
MAKING TIME FOR OURSELVES
Really cannot think how racism is showing it's ugly head in a list of goals for people to achieve that suffer from knee pain? My knee pain has never been racist, or been subject to racism in any form. Hopefully not upset anyone. xxx
Thanks for a really good question 
Unfortunately in the US there is a big divide between how different groups of people receive treatment, and in particular for chronic knee pain (or degenerative knee osteoarthritis) it is unfortunately older women and minorities who have the highest incidence of knee arthritis and yet receive comparatively less (or lower quality) treatment. This is something that the Start Moving Start Living initiative cares deeply about and we do want to bring attention to what can be a very unfair system. There are many reasons for this happening and many of the decisions and policies that can be seen as being discrimination occur quietly and without obvious intent. For example, studies show that women receive less pain relief and receive it later than men, particularly when being treated by men. This also seems to apply to being diagnosed for a heart attack. This is something that seems to happen in many countries, where women are thought to cope with pain better than men - so receive less help. In the US, African Americans and Hispanics experience higher rates of knee arthritis, but have less access to a range of treatments from physical therapy through to joint replacement - it's not a fair and equal system. The result is that people experience a loss of mobility that is concentrated in the most vulnerable groups. There is also a problem for people who live in rural areas and have to travel a long way to see a specialist, they do not do as well as people in the suburbs. It helps to take control of your health and push back on unfairness (or find a way around it) so the more aware you are of this the better able you are to do it. But very happy to hear this does not affect you and so you don't have to focus on it
Love this💜
