Scaling exercise rehabilitation programmes could benefit the UK economy by £34bn
New analysis by Manchester Met, Nuffield Health and Frontier Economics reveals that expanding access to free structured exercise programmes across Greater Manchester could deliver at least £1.7 billion in social value. This reflects reduced pressure on NHS services, people returning to work, and improved quality of life for thousands.
Researchers looked at the impact of Nuffield Health’s Joint Pain Programme, which uses structured exercise to support people living with musculoskeletal and pain conditions. The programme, which is led by led by Rehabilitation Specialists – personal trainers with specialist training in pain management, is delivered in 110 Fitness & Wellbeing Centres nationwide.
In 2024 more than 12,000 people took part in the programme, with the vast majority reporting a significant improvement in their pain levels and quality of life, leading to 86,000 less sick days taken and avoiding 31,000 GP appointments over the course of the year.
Nearly 516,000 adults in Greater Manchester live with musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain. Yet more than two thirds don’t have a care plan. That means hundreds of thousands could be struggling to work, care for family, or even manage daily tasks without help.
Researchers found that scaling this programme across the region could save 900,000 sick days and avoid the need for 250,000 GP appointments each year and give 3000 people across Manchester the opportunity to return to work.
Profession Tim Cable, Director of the Institute of Sport at Manchester Met, said: “Our analysis shows the huge potential of structured exercise to transform how we manage and treat long-term conditions.
“Greater Manchester can lead the way and our research partnership with Nuffield Health aims to build on the successes of these existing programmes to support people living with a much wider range of conditions. If scaled, the benefits could be enormous: improving lives, reducing demand on the NHS, and unlocking billions more in social and economic value.”
In response to the findings, Nuffield Health is expanding access to free structured exercise classes by rolling-out a free exercise rehabilitation programme for people living with a broader range of long-term health conditions – including people living with cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory disease, as well as those living with musculoskeletal conditions. This has been developed in partnership with experts from Manchester Met at the Manchester Institute for Health & Performance (MIHP) and builds on the success of the Joint Pain Programme.
The programme is already live in 10 locations, including at four sites in Manchester and will be scaled to offer 50,000 free places nationwide each year by 2027.
An event held yesterday (October 9) in Manchester, attended by community representatives, called on healthcare professionals across Manchester, including GPs and physiotherapists to refer eligible patients to the programme and champion exercise as a safe, effective treatment for people living with long-term conditions.
Davina Deniszczyc, Charity and medical director at Nuffield Health, said: “Exercise is one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have – if it was a pill then everyone would take it! Unfortunately, it’s under prescribed – and we need to change that.
“This programme gives people in Greater Manchester access to safe, expert-led exercise that can transform their health and improve their quality of life. By making it free and widely available, we’re helping people to significantly reduce their pain, regain independence and get back to the things they love while supporting the NHS.”
The new research follows the announcement of a pioneering three-year research partnership between Manchester Met and Nuffield Health, which will deliver a clinically assured, exercise-based approach to improving health outcomes for people living with a range of long-term conditions.
