Scoping implementation considerations for Good Boost+.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Scoping implementation considerations for Good Boost+: A community-based prehabilitation intervention for patients awaiting total knee replacement.
IRAS ID
359374
Contact name
Nicky Wilson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Knee replacement surgery can greatly reduce pain and improve mobility for people with severe knee arthritis. But in the NHS, waiting times are often long. During this time, people may experience worsening pain, reduced ability to work or enjoy life, low mood, and increased use of strong painkillers. These difficulties can affect how well they recover after surgery. Exercise programmes before surgery, often called “prehabilitation,” can help people cope better while waiting and may support recovery afterwards. However, such programmes are not widely available across the UK, and what is offered varies depending on where people live.
Good Boost+ is a six-week, personalised exercise and peer support programme. It combines water-based group exercise sessions in local swimming pools with land-based exercise done at home, either individually or in groups. The programme uses Good Boost’s digital technology, with waterproof tablets in pools and smartphones or computers at home. Physiotherapy staff provide guidance, and volunteers host refreshments after pool sessions to encourage social connection. Early evidence suggests Good Boost+ could benefit people waiting for knee replacement, but more research is needed.
This study will explore what could help or hinder the future implementation of Good Boost+ to inform the design of a larger study testing whether it improves wellbeing and recovery. We will carry out three case studies in different parts of England. We will visit leisure centres that currently provide Good Boost sessions - or plan to offer them in the future - to see how the programme runs in practice and what resources would be needed to deliver Good Boost+. We will hold focus groups with NHS patients awaiting knee replacement surgery and interview NHS and leisure centre staff to understand local factors that may influence future implementation of Good Boost+.
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0067
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion