Escape-pain - Self management for Arthritic pain using exercise

Enabling Self-management and Coping
with Arthritic Pain using Exercise

ESCAPE-pain is a rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain of the knees and/or hips, that integrates educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regimen individualised for each participant. It helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can help themselves with, and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better.

Robust evaluation shows that ESCAPE-pain:

Reduces pain
Improves physical function
Improves the psychosocial consequences of pain
Reduces healthcare and utilisation costs.

Tips for supporting ESCAPE-pain participants during COVID-19 outbreak

We'd like to remind you of the availability of the ESCAPE-pain digital support tools which replicate the face-to-face programme and are free to use.

ESCAPE-pain Online is the web-based version of the ESCAPE-pain app. It can be accessed here and viewed on a computer or mobile device. No need to have a smart phone.
ESCAPE-pain app is available on Android smartphones and tablets by searching 'escape pain app' on Google Play

We recommend you read through our ESCAPE-pain support tools guidance which contains our top tips for getting the best out of the ESCAPE-pain support tools before deciding which one you'd prefer to use.

Both tools take the users through a six-week programme, with two sessions per week, each containing:

Exercise videos with simple, easy to follow exercises with clear instructions that were developed so people could do the exercises safely in their homes;
Educational videos with engaging animations giving simple advice and information to help people understand how to better manage their condition;
Individual progress chart to track their improvement over time.

ESCAPE-pain class locations

The ESCAPE-pain programme's 288 sites have suspended face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

We look forward to working with these sites when the situation improves to get classes back up and running. We know that many sites are exploring ways of supporting their participants to remain active during this period.

If you were attending your classes at a leisure centre it is possible that your provider is offering telephone support or virtual classes on the Internet, either live via Facebook or recorded sessions via YouTube. To find out more we recommend visiting your provider's website to see how they have adapted their services.

If this is not an option we encourage participants to use one of our digital support tools, mentioned above. For any questions please email hello@escape-pain.org

Celebrating the ESCAPE-pain programme

To honour the ESCAPE-pain national programme we are sharing four new video case studies from participants around the country, who along with thousands of other people, have made positive improvements to their lives as a result of completing the programme. Here from Ann, Ray, Eileen and John how their lives have changed.

For more videos and case studies visit our Personal Stories page.

Our colleagues at Versus Arthritis have produced an ESCAPE-pain animation to celebrate the programme and our partnership. Have a look to see what we've been up to.

#LiveBetterDoMore

Remember to use the #LiveBetterDoMore hashtag when tweeting or sharing any participant feedback. We'd love to hear more from you so if you have any personal stories to share and would like to tell us about your experience of the ESCAPE-pain programme or app email us at: hello@escape-pain.org.

News

23 March 2020: Watch the Everybody ESCAPE-pain Online Home Workout - Everybody Sport and Recreation are trying to help and support people during the current difficult situation. They are providing online ESCAPE-pain exercise session workouts, usually delivered in their leisure centres, for people with chronic pain of the knee and hip. Find them on YouTube.
4 March 2020: 'ESCAPE-pain gives Crewe resident her smile back' - read about Gail's experience of the ESCAPE-pain programme and how it helped improve her quality of life.
24 February 2020: 'Around 5,000 patients accessed UHMBT’s integrated musculoskeletal service last year' - ESCAPE-pain is mentioned in this article in the Cumbria Crack. Read more about this patient-centred service for people with musculoskeletal problems.
07 February 2020: 'No knee jerk reaction to going for surgery in Morecambe Bay' - read in the Lancaster Guardian how Physiotherapists across Morecambe Bay are using a framework based on the nationally developed ‘Shared Decision Making’ programme to help support patients with hip and knee pain to make the right decision about their treatment.
31 January 2020: See Professor Mike Hurley's 'Letter to the Editor' in the Economist in response to the recent article on back pain, 'Backs to the future', on the 18th January.
28 January 2020: ESCAPE-pain featured as an article 'Stay active during the colder months' on the Cheshire East Council website.
14 January 2020: Pain management programme expands in Portsmouth - read how the ESCAPE-pain programme is being made available to help even more people thanks to a positive response from local residents who have already benefitted from it.