Walking Football for Axial Spondyloarthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Walking Football and Axial Spondyloarthritis: assessing feasibility, safety, and patient-reported outcomes (KICK START AS)
IRAS ID
359266
Contact name
Alexandra Merryweather
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a long-term inflammatory condition affecting the spine. Patients with this condition can have pain and stiffness in their back and neck. NICE Guidelines recommend that these patients should follow a structured exercise programme with additional hydrotherapy, to maintain mobility and flexibility, so as to improve quality of life.
While there is limited hydrotherapy provided in Portsmouth to some axSpA patients via the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS), there is no bespoke structured exercise programme for over 400 axSpA patients under the care of the Rheumatology Department, other than exercise advice which patients are asked to follow in their own time.
We propose twice-weekly Walking Football sessions for our axSpA patients as a structured exercise programme. Walking Football is an inclusive sport, with proven health benefits to other patient groups. Unlike traditional football, walking football is a non-contact sport; players are not allowed to run or jump, and the ball must stay below head height. In this way, people with some mobility impairment or mild frailty can still play. In addition to getting regular physical exercise, twice-weekly sessions would provide training in a sporting skill, as well as give opportunities to connect with other players socially, providing mental health benefits.
We have a number of axSpA patients who are keen to try Walking Football as part of their axSpA management, but there is a lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of this. We thus plan to undertake a 12-week pragmatic feasibility study to gather this evidence.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1141
Date of REC Opinion
10 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion