ActiveLife: ESCAPE pain rehabilitation programme

The programme is aimed at Newcastle under Lyme residents who suffer at people with either osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip or who have chronic lower back pain which has lasted longer than 3 months. Residents must be in a stable condition, safe to exercise and not awaiting further investigation.

Inclusion criteria

These are:

• mild to moderate osteoarthritis, where physical activity will provide symptomatic relief

• osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip only (45 years of age and older)

• chronic lower back pain (3 months or more) (18 years of age and older)

• independent and mobile and able to carry out regular exercise

• able to attend 2 exercise classes per week for 6 weeks

• you have not been a member of or been on any programme at Jubilee2 in the past 3 months

• must live in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme

 Exclusion criteria 

The following are absolute contra indications for exercise: 

• hypertension rest SP >180 or DBP >100 BPM

• symptomatic hypotension -significant drop in BP during exercise or dizziness or light headedness

• pain, dizziness or excessive breathlessness experienced during exertion

• other rapidly progressing terminal illness

• any unstable or uncontrolled condition

• unstable angina (risk of provoking ischaemia or MI)

• unstable or acute heart failure - pitting oedema, dyspnoea

• unstable diabetes

• new or uncontrolled arrhythmias (irregular pulse, atrial fibrillation, heart block, new bradycardia)

• tachycardias (resting HR >100 BPM)

• febrile illness (flu/fever)

• individuals experiencing acute uncontrolled psychiatric conditions

• any other condition that restricts ability to exercise safely