What is the GLA:D program for osteoarthritis?

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects the entire joint, but mainly the articular cartilage, which is the cartilage covering the ends of the bones. Osteoarthritis affects millions of individuals across Canada, impacting their ability to be active and do the things they love. The articular cartilage becomes thin and fragile over time due to healthy cartilage being exposed to heavy loads over a long period of time or unhealthy cartilage that cannot handle normal loads. Did you know:

• Around 5% of individuals aged 35-54 have osteoarthritis.
• Healthy joint cartilage requires balanced degeneration and regeneration; movement is crucial for its maintenance.
• Osteoarthritis arises when degeneration outpaces regeneration. This leads to thinning, cracking, and potentially disappearing cartilage, resulting in bone-on-bone contact. 

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How do you get diagnosed with osteoarthritis?

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis relies on symptoms and x-ray findings. However, symptom severity may not always align with x-ray findings and changes can occur before appearing on an x-ray. Therefore, clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis is often based on symptoms. Early symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Joint pain and stiffness, particularly after periods of inactivity. 
• Difficulty crouching or going down stairs.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis often start gradually and intermittently in one area of the joint. Initially, the pain may only be following movement, but progress to constant discomfort even at rest. The progression of osteoarthritis varies between individuals, making this disease challenging to predict.

What is the GLA:D program? 

The GLA:D program was originally launched in Denmark, where over 30,000 people saw a 32% reduction in osteoarthritis symptoms since 2013. The GLA:D program is an evidence-based approach that works in the real world. The GLA:D program reflects up to date osteoarthritis research and it has been developed based on the feedback from individuals with osteoarthritis and health professionals who have treated individuals with mild to severe symptoms of osteoarthritis. There are three components to the GLA:D program:

• Education: Individuals will participate in 2 educational sessions where they will learn about osteoarthritis risk factors/symptoms, how to self-manage symptoms, why and how exercise can help manage osteoarthritis, and how to cope with the difficulties of daily activities while living with osteoarthritis. 
• Exercise program: Individuals will also participate in 60 minute group exercise sessions twice a week for 6 weeks. These sessions are led by a certified therapist and participants will learn how to control movements and proper posture, build muscular strength through functional exercise, and learn how to apply these exercises to daily activities. 
• Monitoring outcomes: During the GLA:D program, your physiotherapist will take measure of how you are doing and your progress, which will help monitor how the GLA:D program is working for individuals with osteoarthritis and improve the program. 

Some surgeons may require or recommend completing the GLA:D program before being approved for surgery. Completing the GLA:D program prior to surgery helps improve function, reduce pain, and even delay or prevent the need for surgery altogether. Completing the GLA:D program prior to surgery can also help prepare patients for post-operative rehabilitation because the GLA:D program helps improve strength, stability, and provides patients with exercise techniques that can lead to faster recovery. 

How do I participate in the GLA:D program?

Prior to participating in the GLA:D program, you will have to be assessed by our physiotherapist, Jessica Fieldhouse, if you are a new client and have not already been assessed by her. This is to ensure you have symptoms that will respond to the GLA:D program. You may not be able to participate in the GLA:D program if:

• You have other reasons for your hip and/or knee problems (inflammatory joint disease, fractures etc…)
• You have other symptoms that are more pronounced than those of osteoarthritis. 
• Once you have been assessed by our physiotherapist, you can contact our clinic to learn more information and sign up for the program. 

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