Living with Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition which describes the life related changes we see in the cartilage of our joints which most commonly presents in the hands, knees and hips.
In 2015, there were 2.2 million reported Australians (1 in 10) with osteoarthritis and the cost to the healthcare system is $2.1 billion annually!
Symptomatic osteoarthritis is often characterized by joint pain, stiffness and possible swelling and most frequently occurs in those aged over 55.
The risk factors we know have the strongest correlation to the development of Osteoarthritis are:
- Older age
- Overweight and obesity
- Previous joint injury
The common misconceptions that have a weak correlation include:
- Severity of X-Ray and CT scans
- Exercise
- High impact exercise (e.g. running and jumping)
So, what can we do about it?
Through rigorous research, a combination of land-based exercise, education (regarding the condition) and weightloss (where relevant) is proven to be effective in reducing pain, improving joint function, reducing medication use and improving overall quality of life. The evidence is so clear that the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s recommend exercise and education as the first line treatment which all people with osteoarthritis should receive. The hurdle is, only 3% of those who visit a GP for osteo-arthritis then get further referred for exercise.
GLA:D
GLA:D (Good Life with osteoarthritis Denmark) is a well-researched, structured exercise and education program developed in Denmark, designed to help those with hip and knee osteoarthritis manage and improve their painful symptoms and physical limitations.
What does GLA:D entail?
- An initial consultation and baseline assessment
- 12 supervised progressive exercise sessions
- 2 education sessions
- 3 month follow up review
Our physiotherapist Marc Rahme is fully trained and certified to effectively deliver the GLA:D program and help you to continue doing the things you love.