Part Two
Aidan Rich, APA sports and exercise physiotherapist
In a previous blog, we looked at many of the treatment options for knee and hip osteoarthritis. There was one that we left out and it’s the big one - exercise!
People are often told to rest with hip and knee osteoarthritis, to avoid ‘wear and tear’, however an appropriate amount of exercise can be the exact thing your joints need. Remember, ‘motion is lotion’!
So how does exercise help for knee and hip osteoarthritis?
Cartilage health. Contrary to popular belief, the right amount of exercise can actually be helpful to the health of joint cartilage. Cyclic movements force nutrients in and out of the cartilage, promoting healthier tissue. Prolonged rest, or immobility, causes the cartilage to become thinner and less able to cope with physical loads.
Weight management. Regular exercise and physical activity often causes weight reduction which can make a huge difference in the symptoms of osteoarthritis. As little as 5 kg can be enough to make a significant difference.
Mood. Exercise is an effective mood enhancer - who doesn’t feel better after a brisk walk or exercise session? People with a better mood and mental health are likely to have less disability and pain due to their hip and knee osteoarthritis.
“Hurt vs Harm” This can be a funny concept to understand, however exercise can help you realise that pain does NOT mean you are doing damage to your joints. Yes - high levels of pain can be a warning sign to do less for now, but low levels of pain are completely acceptable and will often improve over time
Exercise also has other positive health benefits such as reduced risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, reduced diabetes risk, improved bone density and improved strength. What’s not to like?
It can be difficult to know where to start with an exercise program. A physiotherapist is ideally placed to provide you with education and advice on how to best manage your hip and knee joint symptoms. Advance Healthcare has recently launched the ‘GLA;D’ program, which is an evidence-based program for hip and knee osteoarthritis.
GLA:D stands for “Good Life with osteoArthritis Denmark” and is supported by LaTrobe University in Melbourne. The program involves:
2 education sessions (free of charge)
An initial assessment to get a baseline on your level of function
12 small group sessions over a 6-8 week period
A final reassessment session 3 months after the program commences.
We are excited to offer GLA:D at Advance Healthcare Boronia, Dandenong, Bundoora and St Albans. The program is open to private patients, as well as those with Worksafe or TAC claims. If you have a Medicare “Team Care Arrangement”, you can use this for your initial assessment and final reassessment session.
Best of all, GLA:D give you the tools to self-manage your condition without reliance on a practitioner, special injection treatment or machine.
For more information on the GLA:D program, see our GLA:D page here
Aidan Rich is an APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist at Advance Healthcare Boronia. He has an interest in all sports medicine conditions, and also runs GLA:D knee and hip osteoarthritis classes at the Boronia clinic.