If any of this describes you, keep reading!
It may surprise you to know that the recommended first treatment option for osteoarthritis ISN’T medication.
And it certainly isn’t joint replacement surgery!
The problem is that these treatment guidelines often aren’t followed.
We know that it is much easier to use medication to reduce pain temporarily than to find truly effective and research-backed treatment options.
If you are looking for more than a temporary pain-relieving measure, this is where the GLA:D program comes in.
GLA:D is a structured program of exercise and education provided by physios specially trained in delivering the program.
The GLA:D program follows the best available evidence for first line treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis.
It was created in Denmark in 2014 by physios who were responding to these medical guidelines being skipped.
Medication and joint replacement surgery were being used without a sufficient trial of the well-researched non-surgical treatment options of exercise, weight loss, and education about managing their joint.
You can see a video about how GLA:D began on one of our previous blogs here.
Results from the GLA:D program so far shows an average symptom reduction of 32%!
This is a really impressive figure, and it’s even better when you combine it with the other outcomes including:
In addition, it doesn’t include any of the risks associated with medication or surgery.
The results of a well constructed program of exercise, advice and weight loss are simply too good to ignore.
There are a number of really good reasons:
That may well be true, you can exercise on your own.
Bear in mind, in order for the exercise to be effective, you must know:
Each of these is going to vary depending on your situation, your abilities and your pain.
… then concluding that exercise doesn’t work for them
The GLA:D program eliminates all of these problems with individualised exercise programs under expert physio supervision.
We are certainly not saying that no one will need joint replacements!
There are good reasons to have a new joint and the benefits can be huge.
However, the literature is clear that it shouldn’t be the first or second option for treatment of OA of the hip or knee.
Some of the people that go through the GLA:D programme are able to avoid joint replacement, and some are able to delay it significantly.
Importantly, those that do go on to have a new joint are going to do so with much better preparation.
The GLA:D program is ideal for post-operative rehabilitation to get the best result from a new joint replacement.
We have modified our GLA:D program structure based on patient feedback and our own findings after using it for 5 years. The basic principles are the same, but now it’s like ‘GLA:D Supercharged’!
Step 1: Initial consultation
This session is to assess your condition and work out your capabilities so we can design a program that will be the best for you.
We assess how you are currently functioning so that we can measure how much change you achieve with the program.
We explain the structure of the program in detail, and introduce some of the key information that you need to get the best out of it.
Your physio will determine if you need individual sessions before starting the groups or if you are ready for groups immediately.
Step 2: Individual sessions
This is one big difference to the original GLA:D structure. We have found that many people are simply not ready to join the groups after just the initial consultation.
The value in these individual sessions is:
The result is that people feel more confident and ready to join into the groups.
Step 3: The exercise groups
This is where the real work (and the improvement) happens!
GLA:D works best as a six week program of two group sessions per week.
The research has shown this is the minimum length of time to get the results you are looking for.
Once we book in the sessions we will give you a start date and end date of your program, and we aim for all your appointments to be made in advance.
Step 4: Education sessions
The education component to GLA:D is very important. You will learn things about osteoarthritis that you help you to understand your pain and the condition much better.
You will learn how to gauge how much exercise you can safely do, how to approach pain when you exercise, and other evidence-based actions you can take to help yourself.
The two education sessions fill you in on the latest in managing your joints and how to approach exercise-related pain.
These sessions are in addition to the information that you receive in the individual sessions and through the group sessions.
Step 5: Review sessions
We schedule two reviews – one at the end of the your group sessions and another 6 weeks following that.
The purpose of these sessions is to measure your improvements and to plan with you the best way to keep improving beyond the GLA:D sessions, because GLA:D is just the start!
PLUS: if you break any theraband within 12 months of doing the GLA:D program, we will replace it at no charge!
We see it as a good sign that you are doing the work and worth encouraging!
