Do you have hip and/or knee osteoarthritis? Is your pain limiting your function? Do you need help? The GLA:D Program is for you!
GLA:D stands for Good Life with Osteoarthritis: Denmark. It is a program that was developed by researchers in Denmark to help people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis symptoms. Due to it’s popularity, the GLA:D Program is now conducted in Australia and Canada.
The research has shown that those who have completed the GLA:D program have:
- An average pain reduction of 36%
- Reduced need for pain medication
- Reduced need for orthopaedic surgery
- Reduced sick leave
- Improved confidence in their body
The program consists of:
Education sessions
Two education sessions will cover information such as:
- Osteoarthritis symptoms, risk factors and treatment
- Exercises for osteoarthritis
- Everyday activities for osteoarthritis
- Coping and self-help strategies to manage osteoarthritis
Supervised Exercise Sessions
One hour exercise sessions are completed twice per week for six weeks (12 in total). It is recommended that the individuals also perform the exercise program at home at least once per week to gain greater benefits.
The exercises are aimed to strengthen your hip, knee and core muscles to relieve pressure on your joints and increase your level of function. Each person in the program does the same set of exercises but they can be performed at different levels to ensure that they are appropriate for the individual. The Physiotherapist will customise the program to suit you.
How do I join?
Prior to the commencement of the program you will need to have a 1:1 consultation with the Physiotherapist to determine eligibility, perform baseline tests and register you to the program.
The program requires 4-6 participants to run. The education sessions will be completed the week prior to the commencement of the exercise sessions. The exercises sessions will then run over 6 weeks. A follow-up 1:1 appointment is required three months after your initial appointment to re-test and see for improvements and plan future management.
If you are interested in the GLA:D Program, please contact the clinic or book an appointment at Spark Physio Co.