In Denmark a program called GLA:D® (Good Life with Osteoarthritis in Denmark) has been used to help individuals with OA to reduce their symptoms and increase their function. This program has been effectively used by individuals who have mild occasional knee and hip pain, suggestive of early degenerative symptoms, as well as moderate and even severe symptoms, where they are waiting to undergo joint replacement surgery.
Bone and Joint Canada has teamed up with researchers from Denmark to implement this evidence based education and exercise program to reduce the progression of Osteoarthritis in the knee and hip for individuals in Canada.
The GLA:D® program is a neuromuscular exercise program that has been developed to offload the knee and hip joints thereby increasing the stability, reducing the pain and increasing function. The program runs for 12 sessions over 6 weeks and includes education on the pathology of osteoarthritis as well as facilitated and progressed exercises that improve the muscle function.
Working with the researchers from Denmark BJC has launched the “GLA:D™ Canada” program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where it will be offered to individuals who are being assessed for hip and knee surgery. Over the next few months BJC will be launching GLA:D™ Canada through other partner organizations where treatment of OA is a primary components of their clinical practice.
Please visit www.gladcanada.ca for more information. If you would like any additional information about the work in Canada please contact Rhona McGlasson at Rhonaamcglasson@gmail.com