Soheila Zhaeentan's musculoskeletal guide arrives in English

Swedish orthopaedic surgeon Soheila Zhaeentan is releasing Living Body Smart in English on Oct. 14, bringing a bestselling Swedish book on joints, pain and ageing to Australian readers. The book draws on 25 years of clinical experience, including a fellowship year in Perth, and aims to help people know when to seek care and when to keep moving.

Why it matters: - Living Body Smart is aimed at people managing everyday aches, joint pain and age-related musculoskeletal change. - The book is designed to help readers understand their bodies well enough to make more informed decisions about care. - That matters in Australia, where chronic musculoskeletal conditions affect 7.3 million people, or 29% of the population, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. - Those conditions account for $16.3 billion a year in health spending and close to a quarter of the country's non-fatal disease burden.

What happened: - Swedish orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Soheila Zhaeentan is publishing Living Body Smart in English through Aniara. - The English-language edition is scheduled for Australian publication on Oct. 14, 2026. - The book is the English edition of Kroppssmart, which was first published in Sweden in 2023. - Zhaeentan spent a year in Perth during a fellowship in sports medicine and previously worked across Sweden, Norway and Australia.

The details: - Zhaeentan has 25 years of clinical experience and a PhD in shoulder surgery from the Karolinska Institute. - The book is organized in two parts. - The first part explains why pain happens, what osteoarthritis is, and how muscles, tendons and bone density change with age. - The second part moves joint by joint through the spine, shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot. - The book includes guidance on self-examination and warning signs that should prompt a doctor visit. - The book also tells readers when a creaking or aching joint does not need medical attention. - Zhaeentan says the book is meant to close the gap between active people and the reality of ageing joints. - She says fear is often the biggest obstacle, because people stop moving joints that need movement to heal. - The book includes anecdotes from her time in Australia, including treating an AFL player's knee and an exchange about knee osteoarthritis that ended with the line, “Stop having birthdays.”

Between the lines: - The English edition extends a book that has already found a large audience in Sweden. - The pitch is practical, but the appeal is also emotional: it tries to replace anxiety with clear guidance. - Reviews from Sweden suggest the book straddles patient education and professional interest, which may help it travel well into a broader English-speaking market. - The Australian connection gives the book local relevance beyond a straight translation.

What's next: - Aniara is set to release the book in print, e-book and audio formats. - The publisher is offering interview opportunities and review copies to media. - The English edition gives Zhaeentan a first book publication in English and opens the door to a wider audience outside Sweden.

The bottom line: - Living Body Smart is a doctor-written, patient-facing guide that aims to make joint pain less scary and self-care more informed, just as age-related musculoskeletal problems remain a major burden in Australia.