Group-Based, Rehabilitation Programme for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee and/or Hip

Recently, I attended a training course to be able to improve the services we provide for people who struggle with OA of the knee and the hip. The course was run in the UK by a group known as ESCAPE-Pain, which has been operating under the NHS in the last decade. The concept of the class is to provide the basics of OA management in a group setting.

In Ireland, close to 1 million people live with arthritis with OA being the most common presentation. Almost everyone will develop OA as they age but it can even affect younger populations in rare cases. OA in itself is not curable but your symptoms can be lessened greatly to allow an improvement in your quality of life. Symptoms may worsen from time to time - sometimes for no obvious reason - but with a suitable approach, you can remain as active as your peers without issues. In some cases, surgery may be an outcome but the benefits of an appropriate exercise programme, you can delay the need for surgery for many years (1).
It can be difficult to remain diligent with exercise even for the best of us. For those who have activity-related joint pain such as with OA, it can be even tougher. It has been shown that group classes can be more beneficial for the typical OA population with improved compliance rates. The social element of being around other can really help for those struggling with the psychological effects of OA (2).
The ESCAPE-Pain classes are not solely exercise-based. Each class starts with a 10-20 minute educational conversation around different topics related to OA.

Core Components of Management of OA

Physical Activity

Weight-management

Education and Advice

Examples of Topics Discussed During ESCAPE-Pain Classes

Joint pain and benefits of exercise

Goal setting

Healthy eating

Pain, mood and anxiety

Drug management

Managing flare-ups

Exercise in the long-term

Helping people to understand the complexity of OA is a core component of the management of OA. Without this, you may struggle to self-manage your symptoms in the long-term (3). By developing this understanding, you are less dependent on your local health providers during times of pain. This is vital as often times, some simple strategies can improve matters greatly and save you the cost and inconvenience of booking appointments with GPs or physios.

If you are struggling with your OA, or know of someone who is, then please get in touch with us here at SPARC and we can let you know if ESCAPE-Pain would be suitable for you.

Click here to Learn more about our Escape Pain Classes

  1. Svege I, Nordsletten L, Fernandes L, Risberg MA. Exercise therapy may postpone total hip replacement surgery in patients with hip osteoarthritis: a long-term follow-up of a randomised trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74(1):164–169

  2. Hurley MV, Mitchell HL, Walsh N. In osteoarthritis, the psychosocial benefits of exercise are as important as physiological improvements. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2003;31:138–43

  3. Hurley MV, Walsh NE, Mitchell HL, Pimm TJ, Patel A, Williamson E, Jones RH, Dieppe PA, Reeves BC: Clinical effectiveness of a rehabilitation program integrating exercise, self- management, and active coping strategies for chronic knee pain: a cluster randomized trial. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2007, 57:1211-1219.