MSK Hubs patients experience ‘noticeable improvement’

Nearly half (44%) of participants in a nationwide pilot – to test how gyms and leisure centres could act as musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment hubs – reported a “noticeable improvement” in their condition after attending sessions for 12 weeks.

The MSK Hub pilot involved 1,631 participants across 94 sites from April 2022 to March 2024.

Fifteen leisure operators hosted personalised physical activity sessions focused on progressive exercise rehabilitation and education around how to maintain mobility, reduce pain, and improve health before and after surgery.

Participants were supported by instructors both in person and via tailored online guidance for their exercises, whether in the gym, studio, community space or pool.

In total, 11,785 physical activity sessions were delivered during the pilot, which formed part of an industrial research project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Government’s Healthy Ageing Challenge (HAC).

The HAC was set up to investigate the feasibility of using gyms and leisure centres to reduce the burden on the healthcare system by supporting people to manage their conditions through exercise in a community-based setting.

The data showing the success of the programme comes from an evaluation report published this week, titled ‘Transforming gyms into community MSK Hubs’.

According to the report, for every £1 invested in the pilot created £5.30 in total social value.

The ‘MSK Hubs’ model behind the pilot was designed and provided in collaboration between ukactive, Good Boost, Orthopaedic Research UK, ESCAPE-pain, and Arthritis Action, each of which provided services to ensure a flexible offer for users and facilities.