ESCAPE Pain

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ESCAPE Pain

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ESCAPE Pain at Active Blackpool

Living with knee, hip or back pain? We can help.

Our ESCAPE Pain programme is designed to support people with osteoarthritis through gentle, guided exercise and practical advice. You’ll meet others in a similar situation and learn simple, effective ways to manage your pain, all at a pace that works for you.

Find out more below and take the first step towards moving more comfortably.

What is ESCAPE Pain?

ESCAPE-pain stands for Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Pain using Exercise.

It is a proven 6 week programme designed to help people live well with long-term joint pain. It combines gentle, supportive exercise with simple advice and education, giving you the tools to better manage your condition day to day.

It’s an award-winning, evidence-based group programme, suitable for people experiencing ongoing pain in their knees, hips, or lower back, including those living with osteoarthritis.

Developed by Professor Mike Hurley and supported by organisations including NHS England and Versus Arthritis, ESCAPE-pain focuses on improving both your physical and mental wellbeing, rather than relying on medication or surgery alone.

ESCAPE Pain isn’t a cure, but it can make a real difference. With a mix of guided exercise and practical support, you’ll learn how to stay active safely and feel more confident in your everyday life.

What does attending the ESCAPE Pain programme involve?

Our ESCAPE-pain programme runs over 6 weeks, with two sessions each week (12 sessions in total). Each session lasts around one hour and is delivered in a supportive group setting by a qualified exercise referral instructor.

Each session includes:

Education and support (15–20 minutes)
You’ll take part in relaxed group discussions covering a different topic each week. This is a chance to share experiences and learn practical ways to manage your condition, including tips around staying active, pacing yourself, relaxation, and everyday habits.

Guided exercise (40 minutes)
You’ll be supported through a safe, progressive circuit of exercises designed to suit all abilities. The focus is on building strength, improving movement, and helping you feel more confident in your body, all at your own pace.

What are the benefits of attending the ESCAPE pain programme?

Reduces Your Pain

More than two thirds of participants feel a noticeable reduction in their daily joint and back ache.

Makes Movement Easier

Nearly 70% of people find everyday tasks, like walking, shopping, or getting out of a chair, become easier.

Builds Strength Safely

Gentle, guided exercises build the essential muscle strength needed to protect and support your joints.

Boost Your Confidence

Learn exactly how to stay active without the fear of hurting yourself or making your pain worse.

Improves Your Sleep

Moving more helps ease nagging stiffness, allowing you to enjoy a deeper, more restful night’s sleep.

Lifts Your Mood

Exercising in a friendly group helps reduce the frustration and isolation that often come with chronic pain.

Reduce Reliance on Medication

Many participants find they can safely rely less on pain relief as they start to feel better and move more easily.

Long Lasting Results

The tools, habits, and physical benefits you gain will last long after your programme ends.

Will exercising make your pain worse?

If you’re living with pain, it’s completely natural to feel unsure about being more active, and it’s very common to think that exercise might make your pain worse, but most people quickly find the opposite.

With expert guidance from your instructor, movement will be gentle and controlled, and after just a couple of sessions, you’ll start to feel more comfortable, more confident, and more in control of your body.

While rest can feel like the safest option, too much of it can actually make things harder. Your joints rely on strong, well-coordinated muscles for support.

By building that strength gradually, you can help reduce pain, improve movement, and stay independent in your day-to-day life.

The good news is you don’t need to push yourself with anything intense or strenuous. This programme focuses on simple, manageable activity that works at your pace.

Even small amounts of regular movement can make a real difference, helping you move more easily, feel better, and get back to doing the things you enjoy.

What else do you need to know about ESCAPE Pain…

How do you join the programme?

Our 6-week ESCAPE Pain programme is part of our wider Exercise Referral Programme, so you’ll just need a quick referral from your GP or health professional to get started.

The full programme runs for 16 weeks, giving you access to all Active Blackpool facilities so you can stay active even after ESCAPE Pain finishes.

You’ll also be supported throughout by your instructor, who’ll keep in touch and help guide you every step of the way.

To learn more, simply click the button below.

Exercise Referral Programme

When are the ESCAPE Pain sessions held?

Our sessions take place at the following times:

Hip and Knee Pain

Monday and Thursday – 2:00/2:30pm @ Moor Park

Monday and Thursday – 1:45pm @ Blackpool Sports Centre

Monday and Wednesday – 2:30/1:30pm @ Palatine

Back Pain

Tuesday and Thursday – 3:30pm @ Moor Park