The GLA:D® program (Good Life with Arthritis: Denmark) is an education and exercise program developed by researchers in Denmark for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is the most common lifestyle condition affecting individuals 65 years of age and older, but can also affect those as young as 30.

Current national and international clinical guidelines recommend patient education, exercise and weight loss as first line treatment for osteoarthritis. In Australia, however, treatment usually focuses on surgery and the GLA:D Australia program offers a better and safer alternative.

Research from the GLA:D® Denmark found that patient reported symptoms reduced by 32% after partaking in the program. Other favourable outcomes included less pain, reduced use of pain killers, and less sick leave or absenteeism. GLA:D® participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and increased their levels of physical activity 12 months after starting the program. Similar results have also occurred via the GLA:D Canada Program.

This program is unique in that the education and exercises provided can be applied to everyday activities. By strengthening and correcting daily movement patterns, participants will train their bodies to move efficiently, prevent symptom progression and reduce their pain.

The GLA:D® Australia program consists of:

• Initial appointment to explain the program and measure your baseline strength and current functional ability.

• Two education sessions which teach you about osteoarthritis, its risk factors, treatment options, and self-management strategies.

• Group exercise sessions twice a week for six weeks to improve your strength and control of the joint, and your confidence in the joint.

• A review at 3-months with your physiotherapist to discuss your progress and goals, and re-measure your functional ability.

• Completion of a questionnaire on commencement of the program, and then again at 3 and 12 months to measure changes in pain, function, quality of life, and medication use.

GLA:D® Australia is a program for all individuals who experience any hip and/or knee osteoarthritis symptoms, regardless of severity or x-ray reports. You may participate in the GLA:D® Australia program if you have a hip or knee joint problem that resulted in visiting a health care provider.

To get started as a new or existing client, book a 500 GLA:D initial consult with one of our GLA:D trained physiotherapists.

Our Director, Steven Lee, is also qualified in the GLA:D® BACK Program.

GLA:D® BACK is a treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent low back pain that affects everyday life. The program was developed by researchers and clinicians at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).

The program follows the Danish National Board of Health’s clinical guideline recommendations for the treatment of patients with back pain and is based on principles of self-management similar to GLA:D® for patients with knee and hip pain.

GLA:D® BACK consists of:

1. EDUCATION of chiropractors and physiotherapists in running GLA:D® BACK courses for patients.

2. TREATMENT PROGRAM consisting of education and a structured exercise program

3. REGISTRATION of patient data in the GLA:D® registry

The purpose of GLA:D® BACK is to help patients manage their back pain better themselves through a well-described and structured course of treatment. SDU therefore teaches physiotherapists and chiropractors to offer patient education and exercise based on the best evidence. Registrations in a clinical registry ensure that the results are documented and that, together, we create new knowledge about back pain, so that GLA:D® BACK can be continuously improved.

Patient education and supervised exercise for patients with persistent back pain are recommended as first-line interventions in Danish and international guidelines based on expert reviews of hundreds of randomized controlled trials. Patient education and exercise have positive effects on back problems and little risk of harms. At the same time, education and exercise have been shown to prevent new episodes of back pain. Evidence and theories behind GLA:D® BACK have been published BioMed Central (BMC) Musculoskeletal Disorders.

GLAD BACK Development, Theories and Scientific Evidence

The program is designed for patients with persistent and/or recurrent back pain that negatively affects their everyday life and function. The patient and the therapist jointly decide whether GLA:D® BACK is relevant. As with any other treatment, the decision about patient participation in a GLA:D® BACK course is based on a clinical assessment and patient preference.

Available at Reservoir and Footscray.