Joint Effort: Health Board and Leisure Centres team up to help those living with arthritis

10 October 2025

Sunday 12 October is World Arthritis Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact arthritis has on the hundreds of thousands of people across Wales living with the condition.

Throughout the year Cardiff and Vale University Health Board runs ESCAPE-pain courses to help people manage painful joints. Delivered in partnership with GLL Better Leisure in Cardiff, and Legacy Leisure in Barry, Penarth and Cowbridge, these courses offer a safe and supportive environment for people to exercise and learn how to self-manage osteoarthritis in their hip, knees or back.  

Every six weeks round 250 people take part in an ESCAPE-pain course in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. For the past three years Rehabilitation Coaches Patrick (Pat) Allinson and Kayleigh Philips have been leading ESCAPE-pain courses in Cardiff. Pat runs the course at Eastern Leisure Centre, while Kayleigh runs courses at Pentwyn Leisure Centre and Fairwater Leisure Centre.  

Kayleigh, a former Physiotherapy Assistant working in the University Hospital of Wales said: “I think it's really good that the sessions are outside of the hospital setting. People are not coming into a hospital where they can feel like they're ill. Instead, they come here to a gym to do some exercise. I think that shifts the mindset almost automatically.” 

Arthritis pain can lead people to become wary of what their bodies can and can’t do. “In the first week, people often arrive looking very timid”, said Kayleigh. “They are unsure of whether the exercise will make them any worse. We build up incrementally, based on what that person is able to do and we see their confidence grow.” 

Katrina, who has arthritis in her knee, started attending the ESCAPE-pain course at Eastern Leisure Centre in September after her GP recommended it. She said: “It has slowly introduced us to moving ourselves a bit more and shown us things that we can do at home. It doesn't have to be vigorous, doesn't have to involve the gym.  

“I’ve enjoyed doing it in a group. I wasn't motivated enough to get myself up here (to the Leisure Centre) and start doing things. But being in a group with others who have different levels of pain, different levels of arthritis, it’s encouraging.”  

Pat agrees: “Being part of a group, and hearing from others with experience living with the condition - about what works and what doesn't  - is powerful. 

“The social element is massive. People will often exchange numbers or meet up outside of the sessions, or filter into the same exercise class going forward because they've got someone to join with. That sense of community really matters” 

Kayleigh said: “We see people benefiting from the course, whether that's a physical change or the psychological benefits. It's really rewarding.” 

ESCAPE-pain groups meet twice a week for six weeks. At the end of the course people have the option to go on to follow up gym (ESCAPEE) sessions, Nordic Walking, Rubicon Dance, Good Boost water-based exercise programmes, Elderfit or more.  

The partnership between the Health Board and leisure providers gives participants the opportunity to take up a significantly subsidised leisure membership or join ESCAPEE exercise sessions delivered by the leisure centre staff. 

You can self-refer to the ESCAPE Pain course for backs here and for the ESCAPE Pain course for hips and knees here.

To find our more about what Cardiff and Vale UHB offers to help people manage arthritis, including Good Boost pool based exercise, hand therapy and weight management services go to the Keeping Me Well website.