ASIF

This World AS Day, voices from around the world come together to show what life with axial spondyloarthritis really looks like. 🟠 It is not only back pain. 🟠 It is fatigue, inflammation, disrupted sleep, and the impact on mental health. 🟠 It can involve conditions like IBD, uveitis, and psoriasis. 🟠 It can affect movement, independence, and everyday life in ways that are often invisible. For many, it also means years of uncertainty before diagnosis, feeling unheard, and learning to navigate a condition that affects far more than the spine. Through these stories, we see strength, resilience, and the power of being understood. This World AS Day, walk with us. Listen, learn, and help raise awareness that axSpA is not only back pain. Explore the campaign and discover more stories: /worldasday via the link in our bio #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #axSpA #AxialSpondyloarthritis

🌎📍 ASIF at @panlarleague – Panama @wilsonbautistam , @marcocumbrera , and @dr.sommerfleck delivered an engaging presentation highlighting the findings from the Latin American Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (LAMAS), officially launching the report to the rheumatology community. We were delighted to have the collaboration between PANLAR and ASIF recognised, marking an exciting step forward in strengthening partnerships across the region. Julieth Buitrago, ASIF trustee and President of the Colombian patient association, alongside Marco presented to the patient community, shining a light on the burden people living with axSpA face in Latin America. Marco shared insights through his poster presentation on the LAMAS economic cost data, adding important evidence to the conversation around disease burden. 📘 Hundreds of copies of the report have been distributed, and the momentum is continuing throughout the congress. ASIF’s booth has incredibly busy, with rheumatologists from all over Latin America stopping by to learn more and pick up their copies. 📄 The report is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and can be downloaded here: 👉 /LAMAS 🎥 Watch our videos online to hear people from around the region speak about the importance of the LAMAS report and why region specific evidence matters. As well as launching LAMAS, the team are raising awareness about axSpA and World AS Day (2 May). Delegates are showing their support by Lacing up for axSpA and wearing orange shoelaces! Thank you to everyone who visited us and helped make this such a successful and impactful event! 🙌 #PANLAR #ASIF #Rheumatology #IMAS #LAMAS #WorldASDay2026 @azalearojasreuma

It started as back pain in his teens. But for Akash, it didn’t stop there. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is not only back pain. For Akash, it’s a condition that grew far beyond where it began, bringing fatigue, inflammatory bowel disease, uveitis, and other complications that affect everyday life. Even simple plans can come with uncertainty, never quite knowing how his body will respond. Discover Akash’s full story on our website (link in bio) and explore more real experiences that show the reality of living with axSpA. Living with axSpA? Share your story and help others feel seen, heard, and understood. On our website, you will find a short storytelling guide that we hope will help you prepare and feel confident sharing your story. #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #axSpA #AxialSpondyloarthritis

Walk Your AS Off is back in 2026! Join walkers from around the world on 3 May 2026 and be part of a global community coming together to move, connect, and raise awareness. Drop into the live Zoom event (09:00–18:00 PDT) to meet others, share stories, and stay motivated. Prizes and plenty of encouragement along the way. Getting involved is simple 👟 Log your steps on the @spondylitis website 👥 Join or create a team 📣 Invite others to take part 📱 Share your journey using #WalkYourASOff #WYASO Every step makes a difference 💙 Sign up and find out more: /walk-your-as-off/

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a complex inflammatory condition and is often linked with other conditions, which can make diagnosis more difficult. Research shows that people living with axSpA wait on average, globally, around seven years from first symptoms to diagnosis, with women often waiting even longer: /delay-to-diagnosis-report When people with axSpA, healthcare professionals, and communities come together, understanding grows and care improves. Be part of World AS Day 2026 and help raise awareness of axSpA! Read more at /worldasday via the link in our bio. #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #axSpA #AxialSpondyloarthritis

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has a significant impact on people’s lives across the world — physically, emotionally, and economically. New insights from ASIF's new report: Latin American Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (LAMAS) shines a light on the real‑world challenges faced by people living with axSpA in the region: 🔹 The average annual cost per person living with axSpA is US $9,064, highlighting a substantial economic burden 🔹 Only 25% of people are able to exercise without restrictions, showing the impact on daily life and physical functioning 🔹 Poor disease control is linked to worse mental health and a higher number of comorbidities 📍 These important findings are being shared this week at @PANLARorg Conference in Panama, where the LAMAS report is officially launching. 📄 The report is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and can be downloaded here: 👉 /LAMAS 🎥 Watch this video to hear Azalea Rojas from Mexico speak about why the LAMAS report matters — and why region‑specific evidence is essential to improving care. You can also watch Fernando Sommerfleck, Juleith Buitrago and Rafael Antonio Comparsi talk about LAMAS on the website. 📊 Developed by ASIF, the LAMAS report includes 10 strategic recommendations for policymakers and healthcare systems. Our goal is to support better diagnosis, improved disease management, and stronger care for everyone living with axSpA across Latin America. If you’re attending PANLAR, be sure to visit the ASIF booth to learn more — we’d love to see you! Thank you to everyone who helped write this important report, including (but not limited to!) Wilson Bautista-Molano; Marco Garrido Cumbrera; André Lucas Ribeiro; Jose Correa Fernandez. Perhaps most importantly, thank you to the people living with axSpA who shared their experiences through the survey, and who without we wouldn't have been able to create this invaluable advocacy tool. #LAMAS #EspAax #PANLAR #EpAax

Bhushan’s axSpA story started decades before his diagnosis. Years of uncertainty, countless doctor visits, and symptoms that kept getting worse. Today, his condition has left him homebound. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is not only back pain. For Bhushan, it means loss of mobility, independence, and connection, even though many people still misunderstand it. Want to know the full story? Watch Bhushan’s journey and explore more stories on our website to see the reality of living with axSpA. Behind every diagnosis, there’s a story. Share yours with us, and use our guide on our website to help you tell it. #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #axSpA #AxialSpondyloarthritis

For people living with axial spondyloarthritis, even simple daily movements can be challenging. Pain, stiffness, fatigue, and reduced mobility are part of everyday life for many. This World AS Day, join the Lace Up for axSpA challenge and help show that axSpA is more than back pain. How to join 👟 Tie your shoelaces. Orange if you have them, any colour if you do not. 📸 Take a photo or video. 📢 Share using #LaceUpForAxSpA and #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain. Each post adds to a growing movement that encourages understanding, earlier diagnosis, and stronger support for people living with axSpA. More at /worldasday #AxialSpondyloarthritis #axSpA

World AS Day is almost here! Your story can help others understand that axSpA is more than back pain. Share your experience in your own words by posting a short video on social media. A short storytelling guide is available on our website to support you in preparing and sharing your story. Tag us and use #WorldASDay2026 and #NotOnlyBackPain so we can find and share your story. Explore the campaign: /worldasday (link in our bio)

Registration is now open for @spondylitis 8th Annual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit—a free, virtual event bringing together top experts to explore the latest in SpA care. This year’s theme: "Living Well with SpA: Practical Approaches to Everyday Challenges" offers practical strategies on managing fatigue, nutrition, resilience, career adaptations, and the latest SpA insights. EVENT DETAILS: Dates: May 1-2, 2026 Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT Location: Online – Join from anywhere in the world! Cost: FREE See the full agenda and register here: / #SpondySummit2026 #axSpA #ChronicDisease #Fatigue #JointPain #BackPain #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #AxialSpondyloarthritis

Geraldine, from the Philippines, lives with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a condition that goes far beyond back pain. For her, it’s not just physical discomfort. It’s navigating a body that can change from one day to the next, managing symptoms others don’t always recognise, and carrying the weight of being misunderstood. axSpA is not only back pain. It can affect the whole body, energy levels, and daily life in ways that aren’t always visible. Still, Geraldine continues to move forward, finding ways to adapt, cope, and stay connected to what matters most. Explore Geraldine’s story on our website /worldasday (link in bio) and discover more real experiences that reveal the full impact of axSpA. Behind every diagnosis, there’s a story. Share yours with us, and use our guide on our website to help you tell it. #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #axSpA #AxialSpondyloarthritis

Living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) can feel isolating, especially when symptoms like ongoing back pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, disrupted sleep, reduced mobility, pain in the hips or chest, and related issues affecting the eyes, gut, or skin are invisible to others. Support and understanding matter. Throughout the World AS Day campaign, we will be sharing stories from people living with axSpA to show how the condition affects everyday life beyond back pain. We warmly welcome you to share your experiences and help raise awareness - find out more at /worldasday (link in our bio). #WorldASDay2026 #NotOnlyBackPain #AxialSpondyloarthritis #axSpA