About Us

What is PMM?

• Paediatric Musculoskeletal Matters (PMM) is a free evidence-based, online learning information resource about paediatric musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine.

Why is PMM needed? 

• Around the world it is estimated that there are millions of children with MSK conditions - many are in parts of the world with little or no access to specialist care.
• Many of the MSK conditions in children and young people are treatable and disability can be prevented or at least mitigated by early and accurate diagnosis and access to the right care.
• PMM aims to raise awareness about MSK medicine amongst student health care professionals and clinicians who may not necessarily have had much training or experience in paediatric MSK medicine. These clinicians however are integral to facilitate early diagnosis and instigate access to specialist opinion and management. 

How was PMM developed?

• PMM was initially developed by a team from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK led by Professor Helen Foster at Newcastle University, UK.
• The content for PMM evolved from research (publications listed below) to find out what health care professionals need to know and we engaged with our users to inform format and navigation.
• The first iteration of PMM 2014 focused on the needs of doctors and medical students and PMM-Nursing was launched in 2017. Following feedback from our users around the world a further iteration of PMM was launched in 2018 with new content contributions from our many global partners to reflect paediatric MSK medicine in different health care contexts.
• Full lists of contributors to PMM 2014-2018 iterations and contributors to PMM-Nursing are available.
• We gratefully acknowledge the unrestricted educational bursary from Pfizer to undertake the work to design the PMM platform. We also gratefully acknowledge additional unrestricted educational bursaries from Genzyme, BioMarin and Sobi to support the further development of PMM. These funders had no input to the content of PMM.
• Further information about the development of PMM is available. 
• Further information about the evaluation of PMM is available. 
• In May 2022, the PMM Portfolio transferred from Newcastle University UK to the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society PReS.  This transfer brings long-term sustainability for PMM to grow and gives the opportunity to reach communities further to raise awareness and facilitate teaching and learning about MSK conditions in children and young people.  PMM remains free and open to all.  
• From 2022, there is a global PMM Editorial Board to ensure that PMM remains useful and relevant to the wider community.
• The PMM Editorial Board work with clinical colleagues to develop new and updated content for the 2022 iteration. PMM remains closely aligned with the Paediatric Global MSK Task Force. 

Key references to inform the content and format of PMM include;

• Smith N, Foster HE. Jandial S. A mixed methods evaluation of the Paediatric Musculoskeletal Matters (PMM) online portfolio. Pediatric Rheumatology 2021, 19:85. 
• Smith N, Rapley T, Jandial S, English C, Davies B, Wyllie R, Foster HE. Paediatric Musculoskeletal Matters (PMM) – collaborative development of an online evidence-based interactive learning tool and information resource for education in paediatric musculoskeletal medicine. Pediatric Rheumatology 2016, 14:1.
• Goff I, Jandial S, Wise E, Boyd D, Foster HE. Paediatric musculoskeletal learning needs for general practice trainees: achieving an expert consensus. Educ Prim Care. 2014 Sep;25(5):249-56.
• Goff I, Rowan A, Bateman BJ, Foster HE. Poor sensitivity of musculoskeletal history in children. Arch Dis Child. 2012 July;97:7:644-6.
• Goff I, Foster HE, Jandial S. Detecting joint disease in children-dispelling the myths. Archives Dis Childhood 2013, 98(3), 168-169.
• Kavirayani A, Foster HE. Paediatric rheumatology practice in the UK is benchmarked against the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology/Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance Standards of Care for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Rheumatology 2013, 52(12), 2203-2207.
• Foster HE, Jandial S. pGALS - paediatric Gait Arms Legs and Spine: a simple examination of the musculoskeletal system. Pediatric Rheumatology 2013, 11, 44.
• Smith E, Molyneux E, Heikens GT, Foster HE. Acceptability and practicality of pGALS in screening for rheumatic disease in Malawian children. Clin Rheumatol 2012; 31: 647-653.
• Foster HE, Kay LJ, May CR, Rapley TR. pREMS – paediatric examination of the musculoskeletal system: A practice- and consensus-based approach. Arthritis Care & Research 2011; Nov; 63(11) : 1503-7.
• Davies K, Cleary AG, Hutchinson E, Foster HE, Baildam E. British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Standards of Care for children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Rheumatology 2010, 49(7), 1406-1408.
• Jandial S, Rapley T, Foster HE. Current teaching of paediatric musculoskeletal medicine within UK medical schools – a need for change. Rheumatology 2009;48(5), 587-590.
• Jandial S, Myers A, Wise E, Foster HE. Doctors Likely to Encounter Children with Musculoskeletal Complaints Have Low Confidence in Their Clinical Skills. Journal of Pediatrics 2009;154(2), 267-271.
• Foster HE, Eltringham MS, Kay LJ, Friswell M, Abinun M, Myers A. Delay in access to appropriate care for children presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms and ultimately diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research 2007; 57(6), 921-927.
• Foster HE, Kay LJ, Friswell M, Coady D, Myers A. Musculoskeletal screening examination (pGALS) for school-age children based on the adult GALS screen. Arthritis Care and Research 2006;55(5), 709-716.
• Jandial S, Stewart J, Foster HE. What do medical students need to know about musculoskeletal medicine? BMC Medical Education. 2015, 15:171.