PERFORM Trial

Personalised Exercise Rehabilitation For People with Multiple Long-Term Conditions

Do you have two or more long-term health conditions?

You may be eligible to take part in a research study exploring whether a personalised exercise-based rehabilitation programme can help improve the quality of life for people living with multiple long-term health conditions.

HSU Clinical & Rehabilitation Services is proud to be supporting the PERFORM trial, led by the University of Leicester and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Our Integrated Rehabilitation Centre is participating as one of the investigator locations and we are looking for participants to join the programme.

Find Out More

What is the PERFORM trial?

The PERFORM trial is a research study testing if a personalised exercise-based rehabilitation programme can help improve the health and wellbeing of people living with multiple long-term health conditions. Unlike traditional NHS rehabilitation, which often focuses on a single disease like heart or lung disease, PERFORM is designed to address the more complex needs of those living with multiple conditions.

To find out if the PERFORM exercise programme works, half of the trial participants will undertake the exercise-based programme alongside their usual medical care, and half will continue with their usual care alone. This will be decided randomly. Researchers will compare the results from both groups to understand whether PERFORM makes a difference to the lives of those with multiple long-term health conditions. The findings will help decide whether this programme could be offered more widely in the NHS in the future.

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Who can take part?

You may be eligible if you are 18 years or over, and live with two or more long-term health conditions. If you are interested in taking part, you will have the opportunity to speak with a researcher to help decide whether the PERFORM trial is right for you.

Examples of long-term health conditions include diabetes, arthritis, cancer, dementia, depression and many others. For a list of further examples, please click here. If you would like more information on eligibility, please contact our team by emailing exercise@aecc.ac.uk.

What does taking part in the PERFORM trial involve?

If you take part in the PERFORM trial, you will attend various sessions, including:

A baseline assessment which lasts approximately two hours
Two sessions per week for eight weeks (16 sessions) – each session lasts two hours
A discharge/self-management planning appointment
3 and 12-month follow-up visits for approximately one hour each

This is a group programme of up to 12 people, however exercises are personalised for each participant. Sessions take place at our Integrated Rehabilitation Centre at Health Sciences University in Bournemouth, and are supervised by our experienced healthcare professionals.

What happens in each PERFORM session?

The programme starts with a baseline assessment to measure things like how far and fast you can walk, and complete a questionnaire about different aspects of your health and wellbeing.

Following this assessment, the PERFORM programme runs over eight weeks, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts two hours and is made up of two parts:

Move & Improve (Exercise session)
The first hour is a gentle group exercise session led by our experienced healthcare professionals. It includes a warm-up, strength and aerobic exercises, and a cool-down. Exercises are personalised for each participant.

Health & Wellbeing (Support session)
The second hour focuses on practical support to help you manage your health day to day. Topics include managing symptoms, energy, pain, sleep, healthy eating, stress, and staying active. You will also receive a home exercise booklet, a progress tracker, and a wellbeing workbook to support you between sessions.

After completing all 16 sessions, you will have a discharge appointment to help you plan how to stay active and well in the future.

Both participants who complete the PERFORM programme and those who continue with usual care alone will be invited back for follow-up assessments at 3 and 12 months.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the study and how can I benefit?

The PERFORM study is testing whether a personalised exercise programme can improve quality of life for people living with two or more long-term conditions. Taking part gives you access to supervised exercise, practical wellbeing support, and tools to help you stay active.

The results of the study will inform whether the PERFORM exercise programme should routinely be available on the NHS in future.

Do I have to be fit or already exercising?

No. The PERFORM programme is designed for people with multiple long-term health conditions. Exercises are gentle, personalised and supervised, and you will be supported at a level that is right for you.

Is it safe to take part?

Yes. All exercise sessions are led and supervised by healthcare professionals. You will first undergo a health screening. Your programme will then be tailored to your health needs, and your safety will be monitored throughout.

Will taking part affect my usual care?

No, you’ll continue your usual care as normal.

Can I change my mind after signing up?

Yes. Taking part is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason. This will not affect your current or future care.

We are looking for participants. If you would like to take part, contact us today!

To find out more, email us at exercise@aecc.ac.uk or call 01202 436 222.