This study was designed to test the feasibility of running a trial to compare the effectiveness of a combined weight management and physical function programme for patients with knee osteoarthritis ARMED (Arthritis Rehabilitation through the Management of Exercise and Diet) with usual care ESCAPE pain (Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Pain using Exercise). The COVID-19 pandemic interruption allowed additional measurement of the qualitative ‘lived in’ experiences of this patient group during the pandemic and also their appetite for virtual health.

Thirty-two patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from a combined primary/secondary care waiting list and were allocated to either a six-week intervention group (ARMED) or to the six-week usual care ESCAPE pain group (Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Pain using Exercise) group.

The intervention programme was interrupted after three weeks by COVID-19. Fifteen patients were reassessed after the first stage. The average attendance was 92% with 6 patients attending all sessions, 5 attending 5/6, 1 attending 4/6 and 2 attending 3/6. One subject dropped out and 15/16 patients completed all outcome measurements. All patients completed the KOOS knee score and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale to evaluate anxiety and depression. There was a statistically significant improvement in pain, activities of daily living, quality of life and mental health and well-being scores from time one to time 2. The mean weight, BMI and waist measurements were reduced also from time one to time 2, but these failed to reach significance. The semi-structured interviews provided rich information on enablers and barriers to coping in lockdown, benefits of the ARMED programme to increasing physical activity and weight management and enablers and barriers to redesigning the programme for online delivery.

Evaluation of preliminary data from this feasibility study supports the three-week intervention combining education, exercise and weight management in this patient group even during a pandemic. Based on the results of the qualitative interviews, we have now redesigned our programme to present it virtually. We hope to present the results of our virtual feasibility study later in 2021.