The aim of Joint pain Programme (JPP) is to help you:
manage joint pain through exercise,
get stronger,
move with more confidence and
become more confident adjusting activity around your pain.
When you join, there are two separate things to understand:
The Joint Pain Programme — the group exercise, practical education and guidance.
Your JPP membership — access to the club facilities and classes included with that membership.
Phase 1 — Weeks 1–12
Learn and practise together
For your first 12 weeks, you attend two one-hour JPP group sessions each week.
Each session starts with a practical discussion around topics such as exercise, pain management, sleep, eating well and confidence, followed by exercise.
Across the week, the exercise sessions include:
a mixed circuit session, using strength and movement exercises with cardiovascular stations;
a strength-focused session;
mobility and flexibility work as part of the warm-up;
different exercise options depending on your starting point and how you are feeling that day.
Across the programme, you will work on four main areas:
Strength
Cardiovascular fitness
Mobility
Stability and balance
Q1. What exercises will I be doing?
The exercises are chosen to help you build strength, movement, balance and fitness for everyday life activities.
That includes movements such as:
standing up and sitting down;
stepping and stairs;
lifting and carrying;
pushing and pulling;
reaching and turning;
walking, balance and stamina.
Q2. Are the exercises specific to my knee, hip or shoulder?
JPP is a whole-body group exercise programme, rather than a separate rehabilitation plan for one particular joint.
Everyone follows the same session, but that does not mean everybody has to do exactly the same version of every exercise.
You will learn different exercise options and get help adjusting them when needed.
Q3. How are the sessions set up?
The supervised JPP sessions take place in the studio, with a maximum of 12 people in the group.
Keeping the group small means the Rehabilitation Specialist can supervise the session while you practise.
This means you can get:
feedback on how you are getting on;
different exercise options;
help adjusting exercises when needed.
At the beginning, you may need more help making those adjustments.
Over time, the aim is for you to become more confident recognising what works for you and making those adjustments yourself.
You will also exercise alongside other people living with joint pain, so you can learn from other people's experiences as well as your own.
Your JPP membership
If you are not already a Nuffield Health member, you receive a free six-month JPP membership, starting when your programme begins.
Your membership gives you access to the facilities and classes included at your club ONLY.
Depending on the club, this can include:
the gym floor and exercise equipment;
the swimming pool;
the sauna and steam room;
bookable studio, gym-floor and pool-based classes included with the membership.
You can use the facilities included with your membership outside your JPP sessions as well. You do not need to wait until Week 12.
Your JPP sessions and the club's bookable classes are separate.
Personal Training and other paid services are also separate from the JPP membership.
Phase 2 — Weeks 13–24
Apply what you have learnt
After Week 12, your twice-weekly Phase 1 group sessions finish.
This stage is about taking more of the lead and using what you learnt during the first 12 weeks to build a routine that works for you.
Your free JPP membership continues until the end of Week 24, so you can continue using the facilities and classes included with your membership.
Phase 3 — Weeks 25–52
Keep it going
After the first six months, the free JPP membership ends.
The next stage is about continuing the exercise and activity habits you have built and managing them more independently.
If you would like to continue using the club, the membership team can explain the current discounted JPP membership options available at that time.
Already a Nuffield Health member?
You can still take part in JPP if you are eligible.
Your existing Nuffield Health membership continues under its normal terms. Joining JPP does not change your existing membership contract.
Common Questions
Yes.
Your six-month JPP membership starts when your programme starts, so you can use the facilities included with your membership alongside your JPP sessions.
Gym inductions are a separate club service.
If you would like help getting familiar with the gym equipment, ask reception what is available with your current membership.
We understand that illness, holidays and other things happen.
If you miss 8 sessions or more, you may not be able to continue with the programme.
If illness or another significant issue affects your attendance, speak to the Rehabilitation Specialist as early as possible.
You can book the classes included with your JPP membership, subject to the club's normal booking rules and availability.
Check your club timetable or ask reception if you are unsure what is included.
Near the end of your six-month free membership, the membership team can explain the current discounted JPP membership options if you would like to continue.
Membership prices and offers can change, so the current options will be explained to you at that time.
No.
JPP uses a rolling group, which means people join at different times as spaces become available.
You still complete your own 12 weeks and work through the full programme.
Someone next to you may be on their second week while somebody else is further into their 12 weeks. The programme topics repeat, so you do not need to catch up before joining.
No.
JPP is a Nuffield Health programme.
Nuffield Health is a registered charity.
The Joint Pain Programme is provided as part of its charitable work, so there is no charge to eligible participants for taking part.
Your journey in one line
12 weeks learning and practising together → 12 weeks applying what you have learnt → longer-term self-management and maintenance.
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