Keeping Me Well - Cardiff and Vale University Hospital

ESCAPE Pain - Hip and Knee

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. 

Escape pain logo

How are ESCAPE Pain workshops helping people in Cardiff and the Vale?

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. 

The programme will not completely cure your pain. It aims to reduce your pain, improve your physical function, as well as your confidence in your ability to manage your condition.

Cardiff and Vale offers two separate ESCAPE Pain programmes:

  • ESCAPE Pain for hips/knees – designed specifically to benefit people with hip and knee arthritis providing you with the skills and techniques to self-manage your pain.
  • ESCAPE Pain for Backs – designed specifically to benefit people with persistent back pain. To find out more about ESCAPE Pain for back pain click here.

Exercising with Arthritis

Click on the link below to learn more about arthritis from the VERSUS Arthritis website: https://www.versusarthritis.org/

Why not have a look at the short videos below from people who have participated in the ESCAPE Pain Programme:

What does the ESCAPE Pain Programme for Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis involve?

  • The programme is 6 weeks long
  • You will attend 2 classes each week (12 classes in total)
  • 15-20 minutes group discussion on a specific topic relating to joint pain
  • 30-40 minutes of different exercises designed to improve your movement and function
  • You will be asked to complete a questionnaire before and after the programme. You will be provided with your own individual results, which will be useful to see how much progress you have made.

Where can I attend ESCAPE Pain for hip or knee osteoarthritis?

Cardiff and Vale UHB offers the ESCAPE Pain Programme for hip and knee osteoarthritis at the following locations:

Eastern Leisure Centre

  • Mondays and Wednesdays 

Western Leisure Centre

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays 

Fairwater Leisure Centre

  • Wednesdays and Fridays 

Barry Leisure Centre

  • Tuesdays and Fridays 

Penarth Leisure Centre

  • Mondays and Thursdays 

How do I refer myself?

If you are interested in participating in any of the above programmes, please complete the referral form below. You will be contacted by telephone in the coming weeks to book your place on your chosen leisure centre.

Keeping Me Well - Cardiff and Vale University Hospital

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