We were delighted to see ESCAPE-pain recognised in the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO)’s annual report, ‘Health in an Ageing Society’, as an example of the type of preventive, community-based initiative that is needed to meet the healthcare challenges of the UK’s ageing population.

Published 22/11/2023

During my physiotherapy career I have treated a large number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) and have seen the impact these conditions can have on people’s lives – their function, mood and quality of life. As physiotherapists, we know the benefits of exercise for these conditions, and whilst we can provide exercise programmes, sometimes our capacity to follow up with people is limited or we find that patients find it difficult to get started with or stick to an exercise programme. The ESCAPE-pain programme provides an opportunity for physiotherapists to develop individualised exercise regimes and follow patients on a 6-week journey…

Published 02/11/2023

The relationship between mental and musculoskeletal (MSK) health outcomes is often under-appreciated. People with MSK conditions not only face physical challenges, such as fatigue, pain, and disability, but also experience negative impacts on mental health, such as social isolation, and increased risk for depression, and anxiety. People who have persistent pain are four times more likely to experience anxiety or a depressive disorder than those without. Depression and mental distress can be risk factors for developing chronic pain and affect an individual’s ability to manage their MSK condition…

Published 23/10/2023