GLA:D Canada Provider and Osteoporosis Exercise Classes

GLA:D Canada is an 8-week education and exercise program for those with stiff or painful knees and hips or those with Osteoarthritis in the knee or hip. GLA:D stands for Good Life with Osteoarthritis in Denmark. This program was designed and tested in Denmark. It consists of 3 parts: 2-3 education classes, 12 exercise sessions, data collection. Each education class teaches about what is Osteoarthritis, what are the risk factors and what its symptoms are. It mentions what treatments are available and how to self manage the symptoms. It also explains how and why exercises can help and explains how to cope with the difficulties of daily activities associated with Osteoarthritis.

 

There are 12 one-hour group Neuromuscular Exercise sessions twice a week for six weeks, led by a certified therapist. In each session, you will learn how to control your movements with proper posture. You will build muscular strength through functional exercises and learn how to apply these exercises to everyday activities. 

The third component is data collection for quality monitoring. The data measures how each participant is doing on the first visit, then after three months and 12 months. This information helps monitor how the program is working for people with Osteoarthritis all over Canada, and ultimately, it helps improve the program.