University partnership expands award-winning programme | News

January 2026

University partnership expands access of award-winning joint pain programme

By Claire Huggins

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Thanks to a new partnership between University College Birmingham and the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London, an innovative knee, hip and back pain programme, which has helped over 40,000 patients and saved the NHS tens of millions of pounds, will soon be available more widely across the UK.

From January 2026, University College Birmingham will operate the Enabling Self-Management and Coping with Arthritic Pain Exercise (ESCAPE-pain) programme. This will open up new opportunities for students at the university, as well as providing the accredited training for physiotherapists and exercise professionals across the UK to deliver the ESCAPE-pain programme to people with hip/knee osteoarthritis or lower back pain.

By delivering ESCAPE-pain, our students will enhance their links with the community and provide musculoskeletal (MSK) support to those living with chronic joint pain, alongside existing MSK clinics. Both physiotherapy and sports therapy students will support the delivery of the programme in the heart of Birmingham and in doing so, will gain valuable, hands-on work experience.

Dr Mark Godwin, Director of Strategic Partnership Projects said: “Our ethos is to create opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience in realistic settings.

"Supporting ESCAPE-pain is an excellent way for them to interact with real patients, in real settings, having a positive impact on them and their patients. As an institution, we are committed to supporting the community in many ways, and providing support for those living with chronic pain is another example of this.

"I am excited by the opportunity to work with the Health Innovation Network South London on this project and look forward to the positive impact it will have in the region.”

"Supporting ESCAPE-pain is an excellent way for our students to interact with real patients, in real settings, having a positive impact on them and their patients."

Dr Mark Godwin Director of Strategic Partnership Projects

ESCAPE-pain was developed by Professor Mike Hurley at St George’s University of London and Kingston University to help people with MSK issues. In 2013 it was originally identified as a local innovation that was ready for adoption by the HIN South London.

It was then supported by Versus Arthritis, Sport England, the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) and the national Health Innovation Network. Between 2021 and 2025, the programme was operated under licence by Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK).

In the 13 years since the programme was established, delivery of ESCAPE-pain has scaled up to over 300 clinical and leisure centre locations across the UK, with nearly 3,000 trained facilitators supporting over 40,000 people.

A series of evaluations of the programme have shown a consistent positive impact on clinical outcomes for patients, as well as long-lasting improvements in quality of life.

For every 1,000 patients who undertake ESCAPE-pain, it is estimated £1.5m is saved in health and care costs.

In 2021, the programme was named MSK initiative of the year by the Health Service Journal.

Dr Rishi Das-Gupta, Chief Executive, HIN said: “MSK conditions take a huge toll on individuals and on society as a whole; government statistics shown these types of conditions are the leading health condition causing people to take time out of work.

"Interventions like ESCAPE-pain have both a health and economic impact for the UK and I am very proud of the work that the HIN has done to develop and spread this programme.

"I am delighted that we have found a delivery partner in University College Birmingham capable of continuing the vital work of ESCAPE-pain, and we look forward to supporting them to maximise its benefits to patients."

Patient resources for individuals experiencing knee, hip or back pain will continue to be available on the ESCAPE-pain website.

New training opportunities for clinicians and exercise professionals wishing to learn how to deliver the programme will shortly be announced by the ESCAPE-pain team.

Enquiries related to training should be directed to University College Birmingham: escapepain@ucb.ac.uk

Main photo credit: ESCAPE-pain, HIN South London.