GLA:D™ Australia Program

GLA:D®, or Good Life with Arthritis: Denmark, is an education and exercise program reflecting the latest evidence-based research in Osteoarthritis for people with hip or knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Fresh Start Physiotherapy is an accredited Provider for the GLA:D Australia Program. Current national and international clinical guidelines recommend patient education, exercise and weight loss as first line treatment for osteoarthritis.

What does the GLA:D Program involve?

• An Initial Assessment to establish your baseline measures, provision of information about the program and collection of data on your current functional ability and program eligibility
• Two education sessions that teach you about OA, how the GLA:D™ Australia exercises improve joint stability, and how to retain this improved joint stability outside of the Program
• Twice weekly Group training sessions for a minimum of six weeks,
• A performance review session at the end of the program (3 months) to establish your levels of improvement and to re-establish goals and progress your exercises for ongoing participation in the program.

After the program completion, your ongoing participation of the exercises can take place: at home, in a group at Fresh Start Physiotherapy, or a combination of both. We are here to support all of our participants as much as they need during their rehabilitation.

The GLA:D™ Australia 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 properly, improve muscle control of the joint, prevent symptom progression and reduce pain.

The program offers a safe alternative to managing Hip and knee OA that may prolong the need for, or avoid the need for surgery.
Research from the GLA:D® program in Denmark found symptom progression reduces by 32%.

Other outcomes include less pain, reduced use of joint related pain medication, and less people on sick leave. GLA:D® participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and increased levels of physical activity 12 months after starting the program. Other program findings included the delay of, or avoidance of surgery.