Enabling Self-management and Coping
with Arthritic Pain using Exercise

​ESCAPE-pain is a rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain 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. 

ESCAPE-pain offers two programmes: 

• ESCAPE-pain for knees and hips: designed to benefit people with chronic knee or hip pain
• ESCAPE-pain for backs: designed to benefit people with chronic low back pain. 

Tips for supporting ESCAPE-pain participants during COVID-19

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 and is accessed via our website. ESCAPE-pain Online was designed to be viewed on a computer or a variety of mobile devices, but you don't need to have a smart phone.

• ESCAPE-pain app is available on Android smartphones and tablets by searching 'escape pain app' on Google Play

Both tools take 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.​

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.

Supporting people with limited or no access to technology

We recognise many of the tools that are being recommended to support people to keep active in their homes during COVID-19 require access to smart devices, laptops, the Internet etc. In order to support people who do not have access to the Internet or digital devices we have pulled together a list of resources that can be printed out and sent to people, and also some radio and television resources. See our updated information.

ESCAPE-pain e-Learning resources for sites/providers

We have developed two free and interactive ESCAPE-pain e-learning resources, together with Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare.

The resources are aimed at prospective ESCAPE-pain sites/providers.

The first session is aimed at helping interested providers determine how ESCAPE-pain may fit within their organisation and to begin the process towards implementation. The second session is aimed at professionals (healthcare professionals and exercise instructors) who plan to deliver the programme and become ESCAPE-pain facilitators.

The e-Learning resources were commissioned by the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and developed by Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare, in collaboration with ESCAPE-pain and the Health Innovation Network.

Read more about the e-Learning resources.

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. Hear from Ann, Ray, Eileen and John how their lives have changed. 

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

Versus Arthritis ESCAPE-pain celebratory animation

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.

Latest news

• 7 December 2020: NHSX shares digital playbooks containing case studies including ESCAPE-pain. The new digital playbooks released by NHSX contain more than 90 case studies of how technology is being used to solve clinical challenges.
• 30 November 2020: ESCAPE-pain news post on HEE e-Learning for Healthcare website, ‘ESCAPE-pain - supporting people with chronic joint pain’.
• 20 November 2020: ESCAPE-pain article on East Midlands AHSN website, ‘EMAHSN programme for chronic joint pain delivered virtually during pandemic’.
• 20 November 2020: Read our newly published Autumn Newsletter.

Contact us by email at hello@escape-pain.org for more information.

Page last reviewed: 15 February 2021. Page last updated: 15 February 2021. Next review date: April 2021

ESCAPE-pain app

Available for Android devices