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 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. It can be accessed here and 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 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.

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 on here.

New video resources available for ESCAPE-pain facilitators

We're very pleased to share new footage for the ESCAPE-pain knee and hip programme. The footage is a collaboration between the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria, North West Coast Innovation Agency, and the Health Innovation Network.

It is a 10-session abridged version of the ESCAPE-pain programme using videos. The videos have been designed to give people access to the programme during the current COVID-19 restrictions. These sessions will only be available online until face-to-face sessions are able to be delivered at physical venues once more. Please note they are only available for use by trained ESCAPE-pain facilitators based at ESCAPE-pain sites that were delivering face-to-face classes prior to lockdown.

For information on how to access the videos please read more on our COVID-19 Support page.

New ESCAPE-pain e-Learning resources for sites/providers

We are delighted to announce the launch of two new, free and interactive ESCAPE-pain e-learning resources we have developed 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.

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.

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.

Summer Newsletter.

Latest news

4 September 2020: ESCAPE-pain programme awarded 'MSK Care Initiative of the Year' at the HSJ Value Awards 2020.

19 August 2020: Read our newly published Summer Newsletter.
17 August 2020: ESCAPE-pain launch new, free and interactive e-learning resources to support prospective ESCAPE-pain sites and providers. Developed with Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare, the resources were commissioned by the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) to support the legacy of the national programme. See here for more information.
11 August 2020: ESCAPE-pain included in a respositary of interventions, Online Osteoarthritis Management Programmes, identified by the Joint Effort Initiative Implementation Group (endorsed by Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI)) as a response to the covid-19 situation. The repository provides stakeholders and organisations with access to online, evidence based, international OA management programmes (OAMPs). The repository provides solutions for healthcare professionals seeking to access and signpost patients with OA to remote, high-quality programmes that do not require face to face contact. It also provides healthcare practitioner resources for online training in delivering OA management programmes.

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