GLA:D® – an education and exercise program for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

GLA:D®, Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark, is an education and exercise program developed by researchers in Denmark for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms. GLA:D® Australia is a not-for-profit initiative led by La Trobe University. Research from the GLA:D® program in Australia shows:

• an average pain reduction of 36%
• reduced pain killers’ consumption
• reduced expected need for surgery
• substantial improvement in perceived joint stability

The GLA:D® program represents a research backed initiative that follows current first line recommendations for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. This includes patient education sessions prior to commencing the program that contain information about osteoarthritis and treatment options and an exercise program of supervised neuromuscular exercise that is conducted in a small group or individually, 2 times a week for 6 weeks.  Supervised exercise is often more effective, and it is highly recommended to be completed in a group format. Patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis are treated by a certified GLAD physiotherapist.

You can participate in the GLA:D® Australia program if you have a hip or knee joint problem that resulted in visiting a health care provider.

The GLA:D® Program Consists of:

• An initial appointment to explain the program and measure your current functional ability.
• Two education sessions which teach you about OA, its risk factors, treatment options, and self-management strategies.
• Group exercise sessions twice a week for six weeks to improve your control of the joint, your confidence in the joint and your strength.
• A review at 3-months with your clinician to discuss progress and goals, and re-measure your functional ability.
• Completion of a questionnaire on registration with the program, and then again at 3 and 12 months after registration to measure changes in areas such as pain, function, quality of life, and medication use.

What happens in the exercise session? 

The GLA:D® exercises are a set of 10 exercises, plus warm-up and cool-down, aimed at improving the strength and function around your hips and knees.  Sessions are run in small groups of around four to six people. In each session, the same exercises are done by each person at the level appropriate for them.  The physiotherapists who run GLA:D® programs have been trained to customise the program to suit the patient.

What happens after GLAD program?

Your physiotherapist will make an appointment to review your goals and progress 3 months after you are registered. This usually gives enough time for you to complete the program and start exploring what to do next. You may decide to work towards getting into a gym-based program, or heading back to running, or simply finding ways to increase your level of physical activity throughout the week.

The exercises and strategies you learn in GLA:D® are also easily able to be replicated at home. Most importantly, they are quick tips whenever you feel you need to implement them again in your life.

To learn more about GLA:D® follow this link: https://gladaustralia.com.au/

If you or someone you know has been having hip and knee pain and would like more information on the GLAD program, give us a call and chat to our friendly staff on 85554099 or book yourself in for an initial GLAD consult.