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About World AS Day – Saturday 4 May

World AS Day is an annual day dedicated to people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). It is celebrated across the world on the first Saturday of May.

Our members and supporters organise activities around the world to raise awareness of axial spondyloarthritis and related conditions.

Aim of World AS Day
World AS Day is dedicated to people living with axial spondyloarthritis. AxSpA is a rheumatic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, also called ‘Morbus Bechterew’ in some European countries. It can lead to chronic pain, structural damage and disability.
Raising awareness
AxSpA affects millions of people around the world. World AS Day aims to raise the profile of this disease and increase awareness of the impact it has on people’s lives, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sharing information
Most people have not heard of axial spondyloarthritis. On World AS Day, we encourage people to share information about the disease.
Connecting with each other and being together
On World AS Day, connect with others affected by axSpA. Join a virtual or face-to-face event, go for a walk with a friend, react to people’s social media posts or share your own stories with your community using #WorldASDay2024.
World AS Day 2024 Theme

This year's World AS Day theme is Signs and Symptoms

Axial spondyloarthritis - or axSpA - is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips, and buttocks. Unlike other types of back pain, the pain and stiffness improve with movement and get worse with rest. Symptoms of axSpA typically first emerge between the age of 20 and 45.

Focusing on signs and symptoms for World AS Day 2024 is crucial because early recognition and understanding of these indicators can significantly impact the lives of individuals affected. Signs and symptoms of axSpA may be mistaken for other conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. By emphasising this theme, we aim to educate patients, the public and healthcare professionals about the key red flags associated with axSpA, such as persistent back pain, stiffness, and fatigue.

Increased awareness can expedite diagnosis, enabling timely intervention and management, ultimately improving the quality of life for those living with axSpA. Through this year's theme, we hope to empower individuals to recognise potential symptoms, seek early medical attention, and foster a supportive community that understands and addresses the challenges of axial spondyloarthritis.

Watch this sketch animation highlighting the key signs and symptoms of axSpA, including some of the lesser-known ones, to find out more.

Could I have axSpA?

Hover over each prompt for more information

Click over each prompt for more information

Anyone can be impacted by axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

It is a painful, progressive, and chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease causing significant back pain and stiffness, primarily in your lower back, buttocks and hips.

If you have experienced pain which gets better with movement and worse with rest for more than three months, and you suffer fatigue, please find out more about axSpA here.

Symptoms often start before the age of 45.

Have you had pain and stiffness in your lower back, buttocks and hips for more than three months?

Does rest make it worse?

Are you beyond tired - would fatigue be a better description?

Did it start before your 45th birthday (it can start later).

Check out our symptom checker and find out if you could have axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Find out more here

Could your back pain be a symptom of something more?

Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips and buttocks. The pain and stiffness improve with movement but not with rest and sufferers can experience significant fatigue. These symptoms may have started before the age of 45. If you have had these symptoms for more than three months - contact your family doctor.

Does your backpain get worse with rest but better with movement?

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips and buttocks. The pain and stiffness improve with movement but not with rest and sufferers can experience significant fatigue.

If you’ve experienced this type of pain for more than three months, check your symptoms in our Symptom Checker.

Find out more here

Uveitis, psoriasis, enthesitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colitis and brain fog are all conditions that someone with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may experience.

AxSpA is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips and buttocks.

People living with axSpA can experience many other conditions.

Talking to your doctor about the impact of your pain can be hard.

Our discussion guide can help you prepare for your appointment.

Find out more at here

If you are a healthcare professional

Do you have patients that suffer from these symptoms?
pain in their lower back, buttocks and hips
pain lasted for more than three months
pain worse with rest but better with exercise
fatigue

Think axSpA.

Have you noticed a uveitis patient with back pain and stiffness?

Have they complained about feeling fatigued?

Has the pain in their lower back, buttocks and hips lasted for more than three months? Does it get worse with rest but better with exercise?

Could they have axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)?

If you think it could be, please recommend they talk to their family doctor about axSpA. Your advice could save them from a delay in diagnosis causing irreversible damage.

Help us raise awareness about axSpA!

Hover over each prompt for more information

Click over each prompt for more information

I won't let axSpA hold me back!

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips, and buttocks. The pain and stiffness improve with movement but not with rest and sufferers can experience significant fatigue. If your symptoms have lasted for more than three months, talk to your primary care doctor about axSpA.

Share to raise awareness.

I'm raising awareness of axial spondyloarthritis!

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips, and buttocks. The pain and stiffness improve with movement but not with rest and sufferers can experience extreme fatigue.

If that sounds like you and your symptoms have lasted for more than three months, talk to your primary care doctor about axSpA.

Share to raise awareness.

ax-what??

Axial spondyloarthritis - or axSpA - is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness in your lower back, hips, and buttocks. Unlike other types of back pain, the pain and stiffness improve with movement and gets worse with rest. Sufferers can experience extreme fatigue and may have noticed their symptoms appearing slowly over a period of years, often starting before the age of 45.

If that sounds like you and your symptoms have lasted for more than three months, talk to your primary care doctor about axSpA.

Share to raise awareness.

Global Events

Each year organisations and patients from all over the world take part in raising awareness for World AS Day in their local communities but also online. You can see a list of events below.

Follow our Social Media channels and visit this page to stay up to date with new events as they are confirmed.

Hosting an event? Contact us with all the details via this form and we will add it to the list for eveyone to know and join!

Resources

Following previous year’s campaigns, World AS Day 2024 uses the same dots style to support the campaign. This year the dots are an orange border to symbolise the sign itself.

We encourage you to use these downloadable materials to raise awareness.

World AS Day 2024 logo

Toolkit

Website and email banners

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Social Media Assets

Get Involved

Make your own sign!

Make your own sign! Our 1 minute video shows you how to make your own sign. Take a photo and post it on social media with #WorldASDay2024 to let everyone know that you are raising awareness for axSpA!

Be present on Social Media

Raise awareness by sharing our social media posts, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Tiktok - remember to use #WorldASDay2024. Feel free to react and duet our content on Tiktok as well! We love to see how creative you can be.

Get in touch with your local patient organisation

Contact your local patient organisation to see what they are planning on World AS Day, get involved and join their events if possible.

Join an event or host your own

Check out the list of in person and online events. Organising an event? Let us know using our form and don’t forget to let everyone know on social media using #WorldASDay2024.

Use World AS Day 2024 Resources

Download our resources and share the campaign with your local community.

SAA’s 2024 Global Spondyloarthritis Summit

The 6th Annual Global Spondyloarthritis (SpA) Summit, hosted by the Spondyloarthritis Association of America (SAA), will be held virtually on 3-4 May. ASIF partners annually with SAA on this patient-focused educational event.

Under the theme “Sharing Knowledge, Building Community,” this year’s two-day summit features presentations from experts in the spondyloarthritis community. For the first time, the event will also include breakout sessions—virtual meetings where attendees can share experiences, discuss issues, and learn from one another. As always, registration is free and open to all.

The program includes:

  • Mainstage educational presentations on topics such as Minimizing Fatigue and Strain; Precision Medicine and the Potential of Tailored Treatments for SpA; The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Future SpA Treatments, and more!
  • Movement demonstrations focusing on Gentle Stretch and The Feldenkrais Method of Meditative Movement.
  • Breakout sessions with skilled facilitators leading attendee discussions in topics such as Words of Wisdom for the Newly Diagnosed; Energy Conservation and Managing Fatigue; and Developing Mental and Emotional Resilience.

The presentations will be available in English and Spanish.

We strongly encourage our members to promote this highly educational, valuable program to their membership.

Learn more about the Global SpA Summit here. More details to follow!

Walk Your AS Off

Join the SAA in taking on Walk Your AS Off during May!

Walked before?

Previous participants can simply log back into the website where their account will be waiting for them to start logging their steps.

If you are new to Walk Your AS Off...

Should you walk with us? Yes! Most people with spondylitis benefit from regular exercise. And remember all exercise counts and can be converted to steps to be logged. Whether it’s work around the house or garden, yoga, or cycling, it can all be converted!

Get in touch

If you have a question or want to share your plans, please get in touch by emailing communicationsmanager@asif.info

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