GLA:D® for knee and hip osteoarthritis
An evidence-based, six-week education and exercise program that helps thousands of people delay or avoid joint replacement surgery.
If you've been told you have hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA), you've probably also been told the options are pain medication, injections, or surgery. There's a fourth option that international research consistently shows works — and it doesn't involve a scalpel.
What GLA:D® is
GLA:D® stands for Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark. It's a structured program developed in Copenhagen and now delivered around the world (in Australia, La Trobe University leads the registry). It pairs:
- Two education sessions covering OA, load management and self-management.
- Twice-weekly supervised neuromuscular exercise for six weeks.
What the data shows
Across 30,000+ Australian participants:
- Significant reductions in pain.
- Improved walking speed and joint function.
- Reduced reliance on pain medication.
- A meaningful proportion delay or no longer require joint replacement.
Who it's for
- People diagnosed with knee or hip OA.
- People considering joint replacement and wanting to try conservative care first.
- People who've already had surgery and want to rebuild strength and confidence.
What it looks like at SOS
Sessions are run in small groups so you get individual coaching with the energy of a class. We measure your starting point, track progress weekly, and re-test at the end so you can see exactly how far you've come.
If you're stuck wondering whether to put up with the pain or sign up for surgery, GLA:D is almost always worth a six-week trial first.
