Osteoarthritis (OA) is the number one reason that people stop participating in exercise, hobbies and even employed work. At least 30% of our population aged between 50 and 70 will have Osteoarthritis, and this percentage continues to grow from there. However, overall OA is still poorly understood and managed within our population.
All current research on the treatment of OA shows the best management outcomes from:
1. Education – by understanding what is actually happening inside your joints, you can help slow down the process and sometimes even reverse it.
2. Exercise – specific exercises designed to strengthen the muscles that support your joints and retrain how your body moves will reduce your OA symptoms.
3. Weight loss (if appropriate) – every 1 kg reduction in body weight will reduce the load through a knee and hip by 5 times. So even very small changes up or down in your weight can greatly alter your symptoms and the progression of your OA.
In Stride Health Clinic is now offering the GLA:D program which stands for GOOD LIVING WITH ARTHRITIS: DENMARK.
GLA:D is an education and exercise program that was developed in Denmark and is now run in many countries around the world. The outcomes for participants in the GLA:D program includes improved quality of life, reduced symptoms and delayed joint replacement surgeries.
The program consists of:
1. Education sessions run by a physiotherapist.
In Stride Health Clinic provides these education sessions free of charge to anybody in the community. You will learn how a joint functions and stays healthy, the different treatment options for osteoarthritis and helpful tips and tools to help reduce your symptoms and be able to stay active.
2. Physiotherapist instructed exercise sessions. In Stride Health Clinic runs these at various times throughout the week.
They consist of:
Strength exercise to target your affected joints
Core strength work
Functional exercises to help with everyday activities
Neuromuscular training to improve the way your body moves and controls its joints
These exercise sessions cost $150 for 6 classes, or $35 for a casual class and is claimable in private health insurance. For the best outcomes it is recommended to attend exercise classes twice a week for 6 weeks and then you can maintain exercises on your own or attend weekly to keep you on track.
In Stride Health Clinic also offers other services that may help those with osteoarthritis including podiatry (foot care and orthotics/insoles), a dietitian (weight management), clinical pilates, physiotherapy and myotherapy.
If you would like more information about our GLA:D exercise and education sessions or to book an appointment with any of our practitioners, please call the clinic on 93728091. Our education sessions are run every 6 weeks and consist of two 1 hour sessions.
