Professor Tom Wainwright recently delivered a presentation at Bournemouth University’s inaugural Spotlight Lecture Series, highlighting the potential of group-mediated community exercise to transform NHS care pathways—starting with the CHAIN programme.
Hosted at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in collaboration with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, the event brought together academic experts to explore how the NHS can evolve to meet future health challenges. Professor Wainwright shared research findings from the CHAIN programme (Cycling Against Hip Pain)—an innovative, group-based rehabilitation model designed to help people with hip osteoarthritis improve function, reduce pain, and delay or avoid surgery.
In his presentation, Professor Wainwright explained how CHAIN, developed and delivered in community leisure settings, has demonstrated excellent outcomes in physical activity engagement, symptom relief, and patient satisfaction. “Our research shows that CHAIN not only improves quality of life for individuals with hip osteoarthritis but also reduces pressure on surgical services by supporting conservative management in a scalable, cost-effective way,” he said.
He concluded by highlighting how the CHAIN model serves as a blueprint for managing other chronic conditions through group-mediated, community-based exercise interventions—an approach that aligns closely with NHS priorities around preventative health, integrated care, and reducing demand on secondary care services.
“CHAIN is more than just a programme for hip osteoarthritis—it’s a scalable example of how the NHS could harness community infrastructure and behavioural science to address the burden of chronic disease,” Professor Wainwright said. “We now have the opportunity to replicate this model for other long-term conditions.”
The Spotlight Lecture Series is designed to share impactful research with the public and foster open discussions around evidence-based solutions to major societal issues. Future lectures will explore themes such as misinformation and local history, continuing BU’s commitment to connecting research with community needs.
For more information about BU’s Spotlight Lecture Series, visit: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/get-involved/spotlight-public-lecture-series
