GLA:D® Osteoarthritis Care at Fitness Physio

GLA:D® Individual Sessions in Merewether

Fitness Physio is proud to be part of the La Trobe University network of physiotherapy clinics providing the GLA:D® program in Australia. Fitness Physio was the first clinic to bring the GLA:D® program to Newcastle.

Today, Po provides the program through individual sessions rather than group classes. This means you still receive the same structured osteoarthritis education and exercise program, with one-on-one supervision and the ability to adjust the exercises to your symptoms, strength, confidence and goals.

This can be helpful if you are finding it harder to walk longer distances, manage stairs, get out of the car, keep up with work, stay active in the gym, or trust your hip or knee during daily activity.

What is the GLA:D® Program?

GLA:D® stands for Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark. It is an evidence-based education and neuromuscular exercise program for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

The program targets:

• Quality of movement
• Muscle strength
• Joint control and stability
• Confidence with movement
• Understanding osteoarthritis
• Self-management strategies
• Staying active safely over time

GLA:D® was developed in Denmark and has since been introduced in Australia through La Trobe University. The program is designed to help people understand osteoarthritis, exercise safely, build strength and feel more confident using their hip or knee.

Who is the GLA:D® Program for?

This program may be suitable for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms, including those who have been told they have arthritis on an X-ray or scan.

It may help if:

• You have hip or knee osteoarthritis
• You have joint pain or stiffness with walking, stairs or daily activity
• You feel weaker through your hip, thigh, knee or leg
• You avoid certain movements because you are unsure what is safe
• You are finding it harder to get out of chairs, squat, kneel or walk longer distances
• You want to stay active but need a clearer plan
• You are considering injections, surgery or specialist review and want to explore exercise-based care first

You do not need to be fit to start. The program can be adjusted to your current level.

The GLA:D® Program outcomes

One of the strengths of GLA:D® is that participant outcomes are tracked through a large registry. This gives useful real-world information about how people with hip and knee osteoarthritis respond to the program.

After the GLA:D® program:

• Average pain intensity decreased (33% for knee and 27% for hip participants)
• Reduced use of pain killers (49% of knee and 45% of hip participants reports they are using ‘less’ or ‘much less’ medication such as paracetamol, NSAIDS, opioids)
• Improved physical function (27% increase in timed STS test and 12-14% increase in walking speed)
• Higher quality of life (29% increase for knee and 20% increase for hip participants)

12 months after the GLA:D® program

• 65% of participants who desired a TKR had not had surgery and no longer desired surgery
• 67% of participants who desired a TKR had not had surgery and no longer desired surgery
• Pain reduction maintained (31% reduction for knee and 30% reduction for hip participants)
• Quality of life improved further (36% improvement for knee and 30% improvement for hip participants)
• Reduced use of painkillers (50% of knee and 53% of hip participants reports they are using ‘less’ or ‘much less’ medication such as paracetamol, NSAIDS, opioids)
• Increase in regular, moderately intense physical activity (8% in knee and 6% in hip participants)

Data and infographics sourced from GLA:D® Australia’s 2020 Annual report. Find the full report here https://gladaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GLAD-ANNUAL-REPORT-2020.pdf

What does the program involve?

GLA:D® consists of:

• 2x exercise sessions per week for 6 weeks
• Osteoarthritis education sessions discussing OA, treatment and self management

Before starting the program you will have a one-on-one appointment. This is to assess your goals, baseline function and provide basic exercises to ease your transition into the program.

We are currently offering one on one sessions for a more personalised exercise program

How can I get involved?

The first step is to book an initial assessment with Po at Fitness Physio in Merewether.

In this appointment, Po will look at your hip or knee symptoms, your current function, your goals and whether GLA:D® is the right fit for you.

Your assessment may include:

• A discussion about your symptoms, history and main concerns
• Your goals for walking, stairs, work, sport, gym or daily life
• Hip, knee and lower limb movement testing
• Strength, balance and control testing
• Functional tasks such as sit-to-stand, squatting, stairs or walking
• A clear explanation of what may be contributing to your symptoms
• A plan for starting the program through individual sessions

You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before you book. That is what the assessment is for.