Subtheme	Study	Direct participant data	Author description of data
Psychological benefits of exercise	Fisken 2016	"Strengthening your muscles…keeping your weight down…keeps you in shape." "Keeps the body moving, takes your mind off it, it's good to be outside. Yea, keeping active, or else if you've got osteo, it can get you right down, if you stay inside you just mope about it." p.14.	‐
	Hendry 2006	"You just feel great when you've done it…you know, they say exercise releases happy something in your brain and it certainly does…" p.560. "You feel great when you exercise, it gives you a buzz." p.561. "Exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, it improves fitness and I feel better for it." p.561.	Some commented on an improvement in general well‐being. p.560.
	Hurley 2010	"…Overall I have improved…. it's a feeling of general well being really…I feel a lot better in myself, I mean mentally, mostly mentally…" p.7. "…If I can get myself back to a little bit of [line dancing] then I kind of umm, my life is kind of coming back to normality, you know, cause it can take over your life a bit as I say, you are scared of what to do and what not to do…" p.7. "…I didn't do no exercise, I didn't know I should do, I was frightened…but since I knew of the exercise, I have been doing it…" p.7. "…you are all in there with similar problems, and it's the friendliness, like on a, personal level." p.7. "…we formed very tightly knit group…we were all trying to help one another, you know." p.7.	The programme reduced anxiety and fear of activities people previously thought might increase pain, increased confidence in their ability to exercise safely and effectively, and generated a sense of self‐achievement. p.6. The physical and psychological improvements returned a degree of normality to people's lives. Some returned to previous activities they had begun to avoid for fear of harm, or take up activities to increase their level of physical activity. p.6. Participants who received group‐rehabilitation thought meeting, sharing experiences and the support derived from fellow group members was beneficial, and that observing improvements in other people was a source of encouragement. p.8.
	Larmer 2014b; Larmer 2014a	"It's been an awful shock to get sick…It's been really really difficult, so coming and talking to other people, probably has been almost as beneficial as doing the exercise and realising that you're not the only one." p.91.	Participants described psychological benefits from going to hydrotherapy…sharing and comparing their health condition with people who also had OA was also identified as beneficial. The sessions helped participants gain a better perspective on their condition, through comparing to other people and talking with other people in similar situations. p. 91.
	Morden 2011	"So, you tended to be concentrating more on the dogs than on what you were doing. So you then noticed that you've been walking and you were getting more comfortable purely because your mind was distracted from the circumstances of the pain in the knee and the hip. So that was what we used the dogs for, but that was an incidental. It just happened that it was when you took the dogs out, you were distracted from the pain. So, you got your Physio." pp.194‐195. "I think swimming is one of the best exercises that you can get and I do feel when I've been swimming, that it does me good. Plus, I just love it. I enjoy it. It's a social thing as well and I just get so much out of it. I pay a fee at the gym and I only swim; I don't do anything else but I just love the place I go to. It's only just over the way and I just go every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning so it's not just the exercise. The exercise is very important to me but it's everything that goes along with it. I've made new friends since I retired and I just find that completely satisfying; I enjoy it and I don't want to give that up." p. 195.	One participant outlined the unintended beneficial consequence of walking his dogs, in particular, the fact that this was not just physical ('you got your physio') but also psychological in terms of distracting his thoughts away from pain. p.195. Another participant recognised the psychological, social and physical benefits of exercise and the combination of these factors provide the motivation to continue. p.195. Participants had some worries about the potential for damaging the joint, but their main concern was maintaining their social contacts, preferred leisure activities or sense of self as a 'fit and active' person. p.195.
	Moody 2012	"the social side of things is really, really good." p.66. "all in the same boat." p.66. "…sometimes being actually on your own to be motivated uh it's harder. It's harder: A lot harder." p.66.	Participants spoke of the good social atmosphere of camaraderie created by the group and the instructor and the friendships that were forged. Exercising with other people made it more fun and enjoyable and participants found they helped one another. As they were "all in the same boat" they felt more comfortable and could empathisse with and relate to each other. Many people stated they would not have gone to water‐based exercise or similar exercise on their own. Some participants expressed frustration that they could not motivate themselves to go alone, but that there was no problem with motivation if they went with the group. Being part of a group contributed to motivation both for getting to the classes and also once they were there. p.66.
	Petursdottir 2010	"I am more vivacious, both physically and mentally."	Most of the participants agreed that physical exercise improved their mental well‐being.
	Thorstensson 2006	"…it has a beneficial effect on the whole body. It gives you a sense of well‐being, not just because you have done it and feel good about it, but your muscles feel as if they have benefited too." p.53. "…yes, I definitely feel better, apart from my knees that is…I'm more alert…. Perhaps not immediately afterwards but I feel more alert after a shower."	To experience well‐being. In this conception, the informants described experiences of mental and physical relaxation, satisfaction and well‐being connected to the moments immediately following the exercise sessions. p.53.