Last Updated on January 30, 2026 by Laura Jensen

This case study highlights the importance of group exercise for people suffering from chronic pain and disabilities. It also covers GP visits and the mental wellbeing of participants.

Meg attends a MELT group exercise class run by group exercise instructor Carole. MELT is a form of group exercise that can be used to enhance other group exercises or sport by reducing tension and stress. Meg, now 27, was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of 23 (having suffered from the condition since she was 16) and has had hypermobility her whole life. Beyond pain medication, her doctor said there was nothing they could do and that she would likely be in chronic pain for the rest of her life.

“I had effectively given up hope but was referred to a MELT class by my GP. I thought if there was anything that could alleviate my pain, even marginally, then I would give it a try. The journey I have been on has been remarkable. My pain is now so much more manageable. I can recall a time where I walked from my doctor’s surgery to the corner shop without the need for my walker. I couldn’t believe it. For someone who was bed bound, this was unbelievable progress.”

Meg

Meg has noticed her mood, diet, stress, anxiety and sleep improve as a result, losing over a stone in a few months. She is able to better manage her pain herself and has reduced both the amount of medication she takes and the number of times she has to visit her GP.

MELT group exercise has played a major role in alleviating Meg’s pain, but the group environment at the class has amplified the positive effects. Meg’s pain was so significant while at university that she had to return home following her degree to receive full time care. Her family had recently moved so Meg was living in a town with no friends and a condition that limited her ability to be sociable.

“Attending the class did wonders for my mental health and I was able to make friends. I can recall a time where I had misplaced my debit card and by the time I made it to the class, I felt too stressed and tired to participate. Normally I would feel embarrassed about this, but the class is such a safe space where I am around people that understand my condition. I was still able to benefit mentally by being there.”

Meg

Carole spoke of a participant who left their house for the first time in 12 years to attend her class. She suffered from chronic pain and has also noticed the benefits of MELT.

Despite being jubilant about the progress she has made Meg is concerned over her ability to continue her participation in MELT classes. She is no longer able to benefit from the subsidy that was initially available when she started MELT and the cost of participating is a notable barrier. Furthermore, access to the classes poses a challenge. Meg, along with many of her peers, do not drive and therefore find it tough to get to classes that take place further afield.

This is just one of the 10 case studies featured in the EMD UK Social Value of Group Exercise report, exploring the ways in which group exercise can improve the lives of those it supports.

To read the rest of the case studies, and explore the full findings of the report, click the button below.

Download the full EMD UK Social Value Report