GLA:D® Osteoarthritis Treatment Programme in Christchurch
Evidence-based help for hip and knee osteoarthritis — at You First Physio Avonhead and Longhurst.
If you’re living with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) this is where you should start. It’s a best-practice, non-surgical approach that research shows is highly effective at improving quality of life and activity levels. You First Physio were the first clinic in Canterbury to offer the internationally recognised GLA:D® programme. Our directors Cate Broderick and Katherine Pierce are both certified to teach GLA:D® and train other physiotherapists throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Hip and knee osteoarthritis has a way of quietly narrowing your world.
The ache that’s there when you wake up. The stairs you think twice about now. The walk you’ve cut shorter, the sport you’ve stepped back from — not because anyone told you to, but because it just seems easier that way.
If you’ve been told you have osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, you may have left that appointment wondering what your options are. Too often, the conversation jumps quickly to medication, or a waiting list for surgery. But for most people, there is a well-evidenced, lower-risk place to start — and it’s not surgery.
Common osteoarthritis symptoms include:
- Joint pain during or after movement
- Joint stiffness in the morning or after exercise, usually subsiding within 30 minutes
- Swelling in or near the affected joint
- Muscle weakness around the joint
- A creaking or cracking sensation with movement
- Reduced flexibility and range of motion
and joint overuse. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation across multiple joints), osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that typically affects individual joints.What causes osteoarthritis? A combination of factors including age, previous joint injury, genetics,
What is GLA:D® and how can it help?
GLA:D® (Good Life with osteoArthritis: in Denmark) is an internationally recognised programme developed by researchers in Denmark. It focuses on 3 key components: education, targeted exercise and decreasing inflammation and reflects the latest evidence in osteoarthritis research, incorporating real-world feedback from both patients and clinicians on what actually works.
Current national and international clinical guidelines recommend education and exercise as the first-line treatment for osteoarthritis — before medication or surgery is considered. GLA:D® is designed to deliver exactly that, in a structured, professionally supervised programme.
GLA:D® may be helpful for people at any stage of their OA journey — from first diagnosis through to preparation for, or recovery from, joint replacement surgery.
HUMAN REVIEW REQUIRED — PNZ/TAPS COMPLIANCE
The research statistics below are citations from published GLA:D® programme research. They are referenced as findings from the research, not personal guarantees. Recommend PNZ pre-vetting to confirm framing is appropriate before publishing.
What GLA:D® research shows:
- Research from the GLA:D® programme in Denmark found symptom progression reduces by 32%
- Participants report less pain and reduced use of joint-related pain medication
- Fewer participants on sick leave at 12 months
- High participant satisfaction and increased physical activity levels at 12 months
- The programme is equally effective for people with mild and severe OA
Physiotherapy FAQs
Everyone starts with a 1:1 initial assessment before joining a GLA:D® class. This ensures the programme is clinically appropriate for your specific situation and gives your physiotherapist the baseline data they need to track your progress throughout. Please call us to get started.
No. You can self-refer directly to us — just call your nearest clinic to book your initial assessment.
Yes. GLA:D® is specifically designed to be adaptable across all stages of OA — mild through to significant joint degeneration. Your physiotherapist will confirm suitability and tailor the approach at your initial assessment.
Your physiotherapist can help you rebook missed sessions. The programme doesn’t need to be completed consecutively — if life gets in the way, we’ll work around it.
Yes — this is exactly what the programme is designed for. GLA:D® research shows it may help delay or reduce the need for surgery, and for those who do proceed to surgery, it provides documented pre-operative preparation. Discuss your specific situation with your physiotherapist at your initial assessment.
Post-operative recovery is another situation where supervised exercise and education may be helpful. Ask us about SUPER GLA:D® — a continuation programme designed for people who’ve completed GLA:D® or are in recovery following joint surgery.
SUPER GLA:D® is a follow-on programme for people who’ve completed GLA:D® or who have had hip or knee replacement surgery. It builds on the foundations of GLA:D® to support ongoing strength and self-management. Call us to ask about availability and how to get started.
MAP (Moving and Active in Pain) is a separate, CDHB-funded community programme for people with osteoarthritis. It has a different format from GLA:D® but may be beneficial for eligible patients. Ask our team when you call whether MAP may be suitable for you.
The 12 exercise sessions run twice a week over six weeks. Alongside this, you’ll attend two education sessions. Your 3-month and 1-year follow-up assessments are scheduled afterwards and are included in your programme fee.
No, ACC does not cover treatment for the GLA:D programme due to osteoarthritis not being an accident related injury.