Introduction
The MSK Hubs project tested whether gyms and leisure centres can serve as community-based musculoskeletal rehabilitation hubs for older adults. The two‑year feasibility pilot (2022–2024), delivered by a consortium including ukactive, Good Boost, ESCAPE‑pain and Arthritis Action, demonstrated strong uptake across 94 sites, with 1,631+ participants and 11,785 session attendances. Participants—mostly inactive older adults—showed improved wellbeing, modest pain reductions, high engagement, and wider facility use (3.7 additional activities per MSK session). Operators reported strong self‑referral demand and membership conversion. The model proved feasible, socially valuable (£5.30 return per £1 invested) and scalable, informing national policy and supporting future expansion into multi‑morbidity community hubs.
