UK Active is calling on the government for support to scale up its MSK Hubs model following an evaluation that shows the success of a recent pilot programme.

The evaluation, called Transforming gyms into community MSK Hubs, was undertaken by the UK Active Research Institute to find out if using gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres could alleviate symptoms of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, such as persistent back pain, arthritis and pain from knee and hip replacements – which are causing an economic drag in the UK.

Designed and delivered following a collaboration between UK Active, Good Boost, Orthopaedic Research UK, ESCAPE-pain and Arthritis Action, the MSK Hubs pilot was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Personalised physical activity sessions focused on progressive exercise rehabilitation and education in maintaining mobility, reducing pain and improving health pre- and post-surgery.

Between April 2022 and March 2024, 11,785 physical activity sessions were delivered to 1,631 participants, across 94 locations by 15 leisure operators as part of the pilot.

Forty four per cent of participants reported a noticeable improvement in their pain management after attending sessions for 12 weeks.

General anxiety levels in participants also appeared to reduce from the point they joined the programme, to when checked at six weeks and then again at 12 weeks.

According to the 4Global Social Value Calculator, every £1 invested in the initiative, delivered £5.30 in total social value.

Mike Farrar, chair of UK Active, says: “MSK conditions are putting an increasing burden on our nation’s health and our economy, with millions of people suffering unnecessary pain and many prevented from working or even carrying out simple everyday tasks.

“The results of this pilot mean the government has a readymade blueprint for a protocol that can reduce the pressure on the NHS and at the same time improve economic productivity by using gyms and leisure centres to deliver personalised support for people with MSK conditions.

“Our sector should have a lead role in reducing the UK’s pain and this model has the potential to be replicated to support those with other long-term health conditions that benefit from movement.

"We're ready to work with the government to deploy our sector’s facilities and expertise to get the UK moving again.”

Musculoskeletal conditions are the primary cause of disability among older adults in the UK, affecting more than 20 million people every year. They account for 30 million lost work days and up to 30 per cent of GP appointments, with an estimated cost to the NHS of £6.3 billion a year. In May 2024, 340,816 people were waiting for NHS treatment – an increase of 11 per cent from May 2023.

Ben Wilkins, CEO of Good Boost, says the MSK Hubs programmes could make a significant impact: “The sector has the capacity to deliver a consistent and scalable self-management service for individuals living with MSK conditions and wider multi-morbidities," he said.

The report is available here.

Wellbeing charity Nuffield Health, which is also working on MSK programmes via its Joint Pain Programme, told HCM the two organisations are mutually supportive.

Dr Davina Deniszczyc, charity and medical director of Nuffield Health, told HCM: “We welcome the findings of this pilot and fully support the call to use gyms and leisure centres to help reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

“We know that movement, when it is delivered by upskilled personal trainers, and under the guidance of healthcare professionals, is a powerful tool for treating and managing many long-term health conditions. And yet, it is far too underused.

"Our research shows that movement-based programmes such as our Joint Pain Programme – which is clinically designed and has helped more than 27,000 people since its launch – can significantly improve clinical outcomes and overall wellbeing.”

Find out more about Nuffield's work in this area hereand sign up for its programmes here.

Dr Davina Deniszczyc writes on the opportunity for the sector to engage with the medical profession in the upcoming edition of HCM magazine. Sign up here for your personal free digital subscription.