NHS could prescribe swimming and gym to help solve worklessness
Swimming and gym rehab schemes could be prescribed on the NHS to help solve Britain’s worklessness crisis.
Back pain sufferers have been referred by their GP for swimming or exercise sessions under pilot schemes at 94 sites.
Researchers said the exercise schemes could mean millions of people suffering from musculoskeletal pain could receive help sooner, instead of being left to languish on NHS waiting lists.
Now, officials at the Department of Health and Social Care are examining whether the scheme should be rolled out across the country to boost the economy and help thousands of people get back to work.
A record 2.8 million people are out of work because of long-term sickness.
Of those, almost half have a musculoskeletal health condition, such as back pain, arthritis or joint problems. In addition, 3.7 million people are in work but with a health condition such as back pain that limits the amount of work they can do.
Under pilot schemes, GPs have been able to refer such patients for 12-week rehabilitation programmes in gyms, pools and leisure centres.
The courses were funded by UKRI Innovate – a government quango – meaning they were free for patients.
Any wider rollout would need to be funded by local authorities or the NHS.
Reduction in pain levels
The first results from 94 sites that tested the approach saw 44 per cent of participants reported a noticeable reduction in their pain levels.
The findings, from 1,631 people, also show that on average, those taking part in the sessions attended around four other classes and activities offered by leisure centres, on average, in an extra boost to their health.
In the trials, leisure operators hosted personalised physical activity sessions focused on progressive exercise rehabilitation, as well as education on how to maintain mobility and reduce pain.
Those taking part had help from instructors in person and online advice.
An evaluation of the schemes found that as well as helping participants reduce pain levels, they also saw a fall in anxiety levels.
Experts said the schemes could dramatically reduce pressures on the NHS, allowing patients to manage conditions that might otherwise require appointments with orthopaedic consultants.
In other cases, it could ensure that patients struggling with conditions like knee arthritis or lower back pain are able to manage pain – allowing them to remain in work – while they wait to see a specialist.
Official monthly figures show 340,816 people waiting for treatment for musculoskeletal conditions in May this year, an 11 per cent rise in a year.
In the pilot schemes, participants suffering from such problems were able to refer themselves for help, with programmes advertised in leisure centres and on social media, while referrals could be made by GPs.
Musculoskeletal conditions cost £6.3bn a year
Musculoskeletal conditions are the primary cause of disability among older adults in the UK, affecting more than 20 million people every year.
Estimates suggest they account for up to 30 per cent of GP appointments, and 30 million lost work days, with an estimated cost to the NHS of £6.3 billion a year.
Data from the pilot schemes found that eight in 10 of those who signed up were doing low levels of activity before they took part in the programme.
Those who took part did so for an average of seven weeks.
Two-fifths of participants had at least a 15 per cent improvement in pain levels, the marker for a clinically important difference.
The model of the pilot was designed by ukactive, a fitness not-for-profit industry association, along with social enterprise Good Boost and ESCAPE-pain, which provides rehab schemes, and charities Orthopaedic Research UK and Arthritis Action.
‘Unnecessary pain prevents work’
Mike Farrar, the chairman of ukactive, said: “Musculoskeletal conditions are putting an increasing burden on our nation’s health and our economy, with millions of people suffering unnecessary pain and many prevented from working or even doing simple everyday tasks.
“The results of this pilot mean the Government has a ready-made blueprint to reduce the pressure on the NHS and at the same time improve economic productivity by using gyms and leisure centres to deliver personalised support for people with MSK conditions.
“Our sector should have a lead role in reducing the UK’s pain and this model has the potential to be replicated to support those with other long-term health conditions too.
“We are ready to work with the Government to deploy our sector’s facilities and expertise to get the UK moving again.”
Noha Al Afifi, interim chief executive of Arthritis Action, said: “Our arthritis community groups have brought individuals with arthritis together at a local level, introducing them to the benefits of exercise. It has been rewarding to hear the individual stories of how these physical activity sessions have impacted pain levels and reduced symptoms in participants.”
“We urge the Government to recognise the success of the project and help us to widen its impact”.
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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “More than 20 million people live with a musculoskeletal condition in the UK. With the right care and support, we know that many of these people could better manage their condition, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.
“The Government is exploring ways of further supporting people with health conditions and disabled people to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and help them to get into and stay in employment. We welcome this report and will consider its findings as we develop this work.”