8.5 million
people in the UK live with osteoarthritis
Around 12.5% of the UK population.
NHS pathways & implementation
Apos® within the NHS
Apos® is a NICE-recommended (HTG671) medical device for knee osteoarthritis, selected for NHS England’s MedTech Funding Mandate policy.
NICE HTG671
A clinically led, non-invasive option for knee osteoarthritis.
The problem
A growing burden, rising demand
As people live longer and obesity rates rise, osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions are expected to affect more people, adding pressure to already stretched services.
£10.2bn
annual health-service burden of MSK conditions
Around 5% of total NHS costs.
Rising demand
Ageing and obesity raise OA risk
Both are expected to increase MSK prevalence and demand for care.
The treatment gap
More options after standard care
Some people with knee osteoarthritis still have significant pain despite standard care treatments like physio, exercise and even injections, and want a non-invasive option to help them avoid or delay surgery. Yet effective choices can be limited.
Sources: Health Innovation North West Coast; Public Health England MSK strategic framework.
For patients
What this means for patients
Apos® is available via the NHS, in a growing number of services that have adopted the treatment pathway. If you think it could be right for you, ask your healthcare professional about local access and suitability.
Available in NHS services
Apos® can sit alongside existing conservative care, helping patients explore a personalised, non-invasive option before surgery.
Start with a conversation
Ask your GP, physiotherapist, orthotist or MSK team whether Apos® is available through your local pathway, or get in touch and we can advise if there is NHS coverage in your area.
Patient stories & evidence
See Apos® in NHS care
Explore patient experiences and the NHS case studies behind local adoption, pathway design and patient choice.
Official resourceNHS Supply Chain articleNHS Supply Chain
Apos in the NHS — Wirral NHS Foundation Trust
Read the official NHS Supply Chain article on clinically proven footwear designed to reduce knee pain and improve joint function.
Read the official article
Official videoWatch Bev’s storyWigan
Bev’s story
Beverley shares how Apos® supported her osteoarthritis care in Wigan.
Open video on YouTubeNHS evidence
Key case studies
Official NHS and partner resources showing how Apos® is being considered and delivered in practice.
NHS Supply Chain
Clinically Led, Cost-Neutral Innovation with APOS®
NHS Supply Chain
Optimising knee osteoarthritis care through collaboration
Health Innovation Manchester
Greater Manchester leads the way in osteoarthritis care with the Apos® device delivered as part of the MedTech Funding Mandate
Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber
Knee Osteoarthritis: Patient Insight and Experience report
NICE · HTG671
NICE recommendation: Apos® for knee osteoarthritis
Read the official recommendations and information for AposHealth® for knee osteoarthritis.
NICE · HTG671
NICE resource impact and evidence
Review the NICE resource impact summary report and modelling tools behind the five-year case.
NHS England
MedTech Funding Mandate: Apos® information
See NHS England’s official policy guidance: eligible technologies must be clinically effective and cost-saving within three years.
AposHealth® UK
Evidence & publications
Explore the clinical evidence and publications behind Apos®.
For commissioners & clinicians
For NHS commissioners and clinicians
Apos® integrates into orthotics-led and physiotherapy / MSK-led pathways, supporting elective recovery and helping teams deliver cost savings. More than 70 clinical studies and publications contribute to the evidence base.
Strategic alignment
NHS 10 Year Health Plan
Apos® aligns with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan: supporting prevention and earlier intervention, care closer to home and productive use of NHS resources. It is a non-surgical option for adults with knee osteoarthritis who meet the criteria for total knee replacement but prefer to avoid surgery.
- Prevention and earlier intervention: strengthens conservative management before surgical referral, consistent with GIRFT’s reference to three months of conservative care before TKR referral.
- Neighbourhood and community care: is delivered through community orthotics services, MSK physiotherapy and primary-care-linked pathways.
- Reducing avoidable hospital demand: offers an evidence-based alternative for eligible patients who prefer to avoid surgery, supporting reduced TKR demand and waiting times.
- Productivity and releasing capacity: helps free surgical capacity so resources can be directed to patients with greater clinical need.
- Cost-saving innovation: Apos® is recommended by NICE as a cost-saving option for adults with knee osteoarthritis who meet the stated criteria.
Orthotics-led
Minimal pathway redesign
Apos® can sit alongside knee brace provision and enables direct cost comparison modelling.
Physiotherapy / MSK-led
A wider conservative offer
Add Apos® to community MSK interventions and give patients another meaningful choice.
Evidence-led adoption
Support elective recovery
A non-invasive option can help teams manage demand while supporting informed patient choice.
Implementation support
Ready to implement Apos®?
AposHealth supports NHS adopters from pathway design through training and outcome monitoring.
Pathway design
Integrate Apos® into orthotics-led or physiotherapy / MSK-led pathways with practical support from our team.
Training & commissioning
Access economic modelling, a full implementation toolkit and one-day clinical training for your staff.
Outcome monitoring
Track patient progress with PROMs and digitised gait analysis, supporting local evaluation and case study development.
Talk to AposHealth® UK
Complete the form below to be contacted by the Apos® team.
Discuss pathway design, training, economic modelling and access to the full implementation toolkit.