ESCAPE-pain Programme

ESCAPE-pain – using education and exercise to support people with chronic joint pain

Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) has worked with ESCAPE-pain and the Health Innovation Network to develop two elearning resources, aimed at helping healthcare professionals and exercise instructors understand the principles behind the ESCAPE-pain programme – facilitating group education and exercise sessions for people living with chronic joint pain and learning how the programme may be implemented in their organisation.

What is the ESCAPE-pain programme?

ESCAPE-pain is an evidence-based and cost-effective group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain.  Designed to increase physical function and improve quality of life, the programme integrates education, self-management and coping strategies, with a personalised exercise regimen for each participant.

The ESCAPE-pain programme can be delivered in a variety of locations including outpatient physiotherapy departments, leisure centres and local community settings by healthcare professionals and exercise instructors.

To deliver either of the ESCAPE-pain programmes, professionals are required to attend facilitator training.  The training is open to healthcare professionals and exercise instructors who meet the pre-qualification criteria.

elearning resources

There are two ESCAPE-pain programmes designed to support people living with chronic knee and hip pain, and people living with chronic back pain.  The research, evidence and endorsements for each programme can be found on the ESCAPE-pain website.

The elearning resources are aimed at:

1. helping interested providers determine how ESCAPE-pain may fit within their organisation and to begin the process towards implementation.
2. professionals who plan to deliver the programme and become ESCAPE-pain facilitators.

Each elearning session takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, with the aim of improving providers’ understanding of what the programme involves and to prepare for the facilitator training.

More about ESCAPE-pain

ESCAPE-pain was chosen by the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) as one of seven programmes to support national implementation, between 2018-2020.  As the support cycle came to an end, this elearning project was funded to increase awareness and allow potential providers from across the country, to access information and support for the programme.

The elearning was commissioned by the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and developed by Health Education England elearning for healthcare, in collaboration with ESCAPE-pain and the Health Innovation Network.

Please see our website for more information about the ESCAPE-pain programme and recommended reading.

Accessing the elearning

If you would like to know more about the programme, including access details to the elearning sessions, the ESCAPE-pain team is waiting to support you.

Please email the team at: hello@escape-pain.org for more information.