The Benefits of GLA:D® Canada for Osteoarthritis
The Benefits of GLA:D® Canada for People Living with Osteoarthritis
Living with knee or hip osteoarthritis can change the way you think about everyday life. A short walk to the store may suddenly feel like a workout. Stairs can become a negotiation. Getting out of a chair can require a little planning — and perhaps a strategic look around to make sure nobody is watching. Fortunately, GLA:D® Canada offers an evidence-based approach that can help people with knee and hip osteoarthritis manage pain, improve movement, build strength, and stay active.
GLA:D® stands for Good Life with OsteoArthritis in Denmark. The program combines education with supervised exercise and is designed to give people practical tools for managing osteoarthritis rather than relying only on medication or waiting until surgery becomes necessary. At Sync Move Rehab Centre, the GLA:D® Canada Program is provided by certified physiotherapy professionals and is designed around the participant’s abilities, symptoms, and goals.
For Canadians living with osteoarthritis, this approach matters. Osteoarthritis is not simply a “wear and tear” problem, and it is not an automatic sentence to a less active life. Modern recommendations increasingly emphasize exercise, education, healthy weight management, and active self-management as important parts of care.
What Is GLA:D® Canada?
GLA:D® was originally developed in Denmark as a structured program for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis. The Canadian version was adapted for the Canadian healthcare environment and has been delivered across Canada since its implementation in 2017.
The program is built around a fairly simple idea: people with osteoarthritis need more than information about what is happening inside their joints. They also need practical skills that help them move, exercise, and manage everyday activities with confidence.
The official GLA:D® Canada program describes itself as an education and exercise program based on current osteoarthritis research. Participants receive an assessment and, when appropriate, complete education and supervised exercise sessions.
At Sync Move Rehab Centre, the program includes:
- A comprehensive physiotherapy assessment
- Education about osteoarthritis
- Self-management strategies
- Supervised neuromuscular exercise
- Progressive strengthening
- Balance and movement training
- Functional exercises
- Progress monitoring
The clinic’s program information states that its standard format includes 2–3 education sessions and 12 supervised neuromuscular exercise sessions, with exercise sessions held twice weekly over six weeks. Progress is monitored at the initial visit and at later follow-ups.
Why Osteoarthritis Management Matters
Osteoarthritis affects much more than a joint.
When knee or hip pain makes movement difficult, people often begin changing their routines. They walk less. They avoid stairs. They stop exercising. They may decline invitations that involve too much walking.
Over time, this can create a frustrating cycle:
Pain → less movement → weaker muscles → reduced confidence → even less movement.
Breaking that cycle is one of the most important goals of active osteoarthritis management.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 528 million people worldwide were living with osteoarthritis in 2019, representing a 113% increase since 1990. The knee is the most commonly affected joint, and the condition can cause pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and difficulty participating in everyday activities.
Osteoarthritis is also not limited to people in their 70s or 80s. While age is an important risk factor, joint injury, genetics, body weight, certain metabolic conditions, and previous physical stress can also contribute.
In other words, your birth certificate is not the only thing your knees are reading.
The Growing Need for Better Osteoarthritis Care in Canada
Canada has a large and growing population living with osteoarthritis.
A 2023 study published in PLOS ONE examined the GLA:D® Canada participant registry from the program’s beginning through the end of 2022. It reported 15,193 registered participants, including 11,228 people with knee osteoarthritis and 3,965 with hip osteoarthritis.
The study also showed that the program had expanded across several Canadian provinces. Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia accounted for most of the participants who had provided baseline information.
That growth is important because it demonstrates something beyond a single clinic or city: there is a substantial Canadian demand for structured, evidence-based osteoarthritis care.
GLA:D® Canada also maintains a national outcomes registry. According to the program’s Canadian implementation research, the registry collects participant characteristics and patient-reported and functional outcomes to support quality improvement and help monitor the program across Canada.
Benefit #1: GLA:D® Canada Can Help Reduce Osteoarthritis Pain
Pain is usually the first reason people look for help.
A sore knee can affect everything from walking and shopping to sleeping and socializing. Hip pain can make getting into a car, putting on socks, or standing for long periods surprisingly difficult.
One of the main goals of GLA:D® Canada is helping participants manage this pain through appropriate movement and exercise.
This does not mean promising that every participant will become completely pain-free.
That would be unrealistic.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, and everyone’s experience is different. Instead, the goal is to help people reduce symptoms and improve their ability to function.
Research involving GLA:D® participants in Denmark, Canada, and Australia found improvements in pain, physical function, and quality-of-life measures after the program. The study included 28,370 people with symptomatic knee or hip osteoarthritis, making it one of the largest evaluations of the program’s outcomes across countries.
That is a lot of knees and hips — and considerably more evidence than a friend’s cousin saying, “My neighbour tried some stretches and it worked.”
Benefit #2: Better Strength and Joint Stability
Muscles surrounding the knee and hip play a major role in movement.
When these muscles become weak, everyday activities can become harder. Standing from a chair, climbing stairs, walking uphill, or getting out of a car may require more effort.
GLA:D® uses neuromuscular exercises designed to improve movement control and muscular strength.
At Sync Move Rehab Centre, participants are taught how to:
- Control their movements
- Maintain appropriate posture
- Build functional strength
- Apply exercise principles to daily activities
The exercises are also modified according to individual abilities and symptoms.
This is important because “exercise” is not one-size-fits-all.
A person who has mild knee pain and regularly goes hiking needs a different starting point from someone who struggles to stand from a chair.
Good rehabilitation recognizes that difference.
Benefit #3: Improved Mobility
Mobility is not just about how far you can walk.
It is about being able to do what matters to you.
Maybe that’s walking around a shopping centre.
Maybe it is gardening.
Maybe it is travelling.
Maybe it is taking the grandkids to the park.
Or perhaps your goal is simply being able to walk from the kitchen to the living room without thinking about your knee every three steps.
All of those goals are legitimate.
Exercise therapy is consistently recommended in clinical guidelines for knee and hip osteoarthritis. A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines found that higher-quality guidelines consistently recommended education, exercise, and weight management for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
GLA:D® puts those principles into a structured program.
Benefit #4: Greater Confidence in Movement
Pain can create fear.
People may start wondering:
“Will my knee give out?”
“Will this exercise make my arthritis worse?”
“Should I avoid stairs?”
“Should I stop walking?”
These concerns can lead to movement avoidance.
Unfortunately, avoiding activity can contribute to muscle weakness and declining physical function.
Education is therefore an important part of GLA:D® Canada.
Participants learn what osteoarthritis is, what treatments are available, how exercise can help, and how to manage symptoms during daily activities.
Understanding your condition can make movement feel less mysterious.
And sometimes knowledge is exactly what you need to replace “I probably shouldn’t do that” with “I know how to do that safely.”
Benefit #5: Better Balance and Functional Movement
Osteoarthritis doesn’t only affect pain.
It can affect how someone moves.
A person with knee pain may unconsciously shift their weight to one side. Someone with hip pain may change their walking pattern. These adaptations can become habits.
GLA:D® includes neuromuscular and functional exercises that help participants improve movement control.
Balance training can also be particularly valuable for older adults who are becoming less confident on their feet.
The goal is not to turn every participant into a gymnast.
The goal is to make everyday movement safer, smoother, and more comfortable.
Benefit #6: More Independence in Everyday Life
Independence is one of the most underrated benefits of good mobility.
Being able to:
- Get out of bed
- Stand from a chair
- Walk to the shops
- Carry groceries
- Climb stairs
- Get into a car
- Walk around the neighbourhood
can make a major difference in quality of life.
The Sync Move Rehab Centre GLA:D® Canada program specifically includes functional exercises designed to help participants apply what they learn to everyday activities.
That’s an important distinction.
The goal isn’t simply to become better at doing exercises.
The goal is to become better at living.
Benefit #7: A Non-Surgical Approach to Osteoarthritis Management
One of the biggest attractions of GLA:D® Canada is that it provides a structured non-surgical option.
That does not mean surgery is “bad.”
Joint replacement can be an excellent treatment for people with severe osteoarthritis when conservative management no longer provides enough relief.
However, surgery isn’t the first choice for everyone.
Many people want to explore non-surgical treatment first.
Exercise and education can help manage symptoms and improve physical function, while also helping people become stronger and more confident.
For some individuals, this may help delay the need for joint replacement. For others, the program may serve as preparation for surgery by improving strength and physical readiness.
Importantly, GLA:D® should not be marketed as a guaranteed way to avoid surgery. The right treatment depends on symptoms, joint damage, overall health, goals, and response to conservative care.
Benefit #8: Education Gives You Tools You Can Use Outside the Clinic
A good rehabilitation program shouldn’t make you dependent on your therapist forever.
Instead, it should teach you skills you can use independently.
That’s one of the strengths of GLA:D®.
Education covers topics such as:
- Osteoarthritis symptoms
- Risk factors
- Treatment options
- Exercise
- Self-management
- Daily activities
The Canadian program was specifically designed around providing evidence-based strategies that people can use in real life.
That matters because a 60-minute appointment once or twice a week is only a small part of your life.
What happens during the other 167 hours of the week matters too.
Benefit #9: Supervised Exercise Can Make a Difference
Anyone with a smartphone can search for “knee exercises.”
The internet will happily provide thousands.
Some will be useful.
Some will be inappropriate.
Some may be too difficult.
Others may not match your symptoms at all.
This is why supervised exercise can be valuable.
A trained physiotherapist can observe how you move and adjust an exercise according to your needs.
At Sync Move Rehab Centre, GLA:D® exercises are individually modified to match a person’s abilities, fitness level, and symptoms.
That individualization is especially important for people who have significant pain, weakness, balance concerns, or advanced osteoarthritis.
Benefit #10: The Program Is Built Around Real-Life Goals
A rehabilitation plan is much easier to follow when it connects to something you actually care about.
Perhaps you want to:
- Walk 30 minutes without stopping
- Play golf again
- Travel comfortably
- Garden for longer
- Climb stairs
- Walk your dog
- Keep up with your grandchildren
Those goals can help make exercise meaningful.
Instead of thinking:
“I have to do another set of exercises.”
You can think:
“I’m doing this because I want to walk around Vancouver on vacation.”
That is a much more motivating conversation.
What Does the GLA:D® Canada Program Include?
The exact experience can vary by provider, but the program at Sync Move Rehab Centre includes several key elements.
Initial Physiotherapy Assessment
Your journey begins with an assessment to determine whether the program is appropriate for you.
The assessment looks at your symptoms, physical abilities, movement, and functional limitations.
Education
Participants learn about osteoarthritis and how to manage it.
Neuromuscular Exercise
The exercise sessions focus on movement control, strength, stability, and function.
Progressive Strengthening
Exercises can become more challenging as your ability improves.
Balance and Movement Training
These exercises help participants develop better control and confidence.
Functional Training
Exercises are connected to activities people perform in everyday life.
Progress Monitoring
The program includes outcome monitoring so progress can be evaluated over time.
How Long Does GLA:D® Canada Take?
At Sync Move Rehab Centre, the standard program includes education sessions and 12 supervised exercise sessions over approximately six weeks. Exercise sessions are typically held twice per week.
The official GLA:D® Canada program also describes education and exercise as core parts of the program, with outcome monitoring built into the broader model.
Six weeks may sound short.
But think about what can happen in six weeks when you consistently work on strength and movement.
You don’t need to transform into a fitness influencer.
You just need to keep showing up.
What Does Recent Research Say About Exercise for Osteoarthritis?
Research published in 2025 provides even more support for exercise as an important treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
A large systematic review and network meta-analysis published in The BMJ examined 217 randomized controlled trials involving 15,684 participants. The researchers compared different exercise approaches for knee osteoarthritis.
They found that exercise improved pain, function, gait performance, and quality of life. Aerobic exercise showed particularly strong overall benefits, while strengthening, neuromotor, flexibility, and mixed exercise approaches also showed benefits in different outcomes and time periods.
This does not mean everyone with osteoarthritis should suddenly start running marathons.
Quite the opposite.
The research supports the importance of choosing appropriate exercise based on the individual.
That is where professional guidance becomes useful.
What About Strength Training?
Strength training has received considerable attention in osteoarthritis research.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether the benefits of resistance exercise for knee and hip osteoarthritis depend on factors such as exercise volume, duration, and adherence.
The broader message is encouraging: resistance exercise can be an important component of managing pain and function.
And no, “resistance exercise” doesn’t necessarily mean lifting a barbell that looks like it belongs in a professional gym.
It can include carefully selected body-weight exercises, resistance bands, machines, or other forms of progressive strengthening.
Can You Exercise If Your Arthritis Is Severe?
This is a common concern.
The answer is: potentially, yes.
The Sync Move Rehab Centre program states that GLA:D® Canada can be appropriate for people with mild, moderate, and severe knee or hip osteoarthritis, with suitability determined during the physiotherapy assessment.
However, severe symptoms deserve professional assessment.
If you have severe pain, sudden swelling, significant instability, recent trauma, or symptoms that are rapidly changing, you should speak with an appropriate healthcare professional rather than simply starting an exercise program on your own.
The purpose of GLA:D® is to provide structured exercise, not to ignore warning signs.
Is GLA:D® Canada the Same as Regular Physiotherapy?
There is overlap, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Physiotherapy is a broad profession covering many different conditions and treatment approaches.
GLA:D® Canada is a specific standardized program focused on knee and hip osteoarthritis.
Its structure includes education, supervised neuromuscular exercise, and outcome monitoring.
The benefit of a standardized program is consistency.
At the same time, participants still need individualized adjustments.
This is why the program at Sync Move Rehab Centre combines the GLA:D® framework with physiotherapy assessment and exercise modification.
Why Choose Sync Move Rehab Centre?
For people living in Thornhill and surrounding communities, access to the right provider can make treatment much easier.
Sync Move Rehab Centre offers the GLA:D® Canada Program as part of its rehabilitation services and serves communities including Thornhill, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and North York.
The clinic’s approach emphasizes:
- Certified physiotherapy care
- Personalized exercise progression
- Supportive sessions
- Evidence-based treatment
- Education for independent symptom management
- Functional movement
The clinic is located at 8220 Bayview Avenue, Unit 206, Thornhill, Ontario.
For people considering the program, the best next step is usually an assessment to determine whether GLA:D® is appropriate for their particular situation.
You can learn more about the program through the official GLA:D® Canada service page at Sync Move Rehab Centre. GLA:D® Canada Program at Sync Move Rehab Centre
Is GLA:D® Canada Covered by Insurance?
Insurance coverage varies.
According to Sync Move Rehab Centre, many extended health insurance plans cover physiotherapy services associated with the GLA:D® program, but coverage depends on the individual’s policy.
Before starting, it is worth checking:
- Whether your plan covers physiotherapy.
- Whether you need a referral.
- Your annual physiotherapy maximum.
- Whether your provider needs to be registered with a particular insurer.
- Whether direct billing is available.
A five-minute phone call to your insurance company can save you a surprisingly complicated conversation with your wallet later.
Do You Need a Doctor’s Referral?
According to Sync Move Rehab Centre’s current GLA:D® Canada information, a doctor’s referral is usually not required to participate.
However, individual circumstances differ.
If you have other medical conditions, recently had surgery, experienced a significant injury, or are uncertain about the source of your pain, consulting your physician or another qualified healthcare professional may be appropriate.
Can GLA:D® Canada Replace Medication?
GLA:D® is not designed to tell people to stop prescribed medications.
Medication decisions should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
The purpose of the program is to give people another important tool for managing osteoarthritis: education and exercise.
The World Health Organization identifies exercise, healthy weight management, education, and rehabilitation as important parts of osteoarthritis management. Medication and surgery can also have a role depending on severity and individual circumstances.
The best approach is often not “exercise versus medication.”
It is about creating the right overall treatment plan for the individual.
Can GLA:D® Help You Stay Active?
This may be the most important benefit of all.
Osteoarthritis can gradually shrink a person’s world.
First, they stop running.
Then they stop hiking.
Then they avoid long shopping trips.
Then they stop travelling.
Eventually, they may avoid activities simply because they don’t trust their joints anymore.
A structured program can help reverse that pattern.
The goal is not to pretend the arthritis isn’t there.
The goal is to help you work with your body rather than constantly fighting it.
A More Practical Way to Think About Osteoarthritis
Instead of asking:
“How can I make my arthritis disappear?”
A more useful question may be:
“How can I make my body stronger and my daily life easier despite arthritis?”
That shift is at the heart of modern osteoarthritis management.
You may not be able to completely change the structure of a joint.
But you can often influence:
- Muscle strength
- Physical activity
- Balance
- Movement habits
- Confidence
- Weight
- Daily function
- Self-management skills
And those things matter.
Who Should Consider GLA:D® Canada?
You may want to ask about GLA:D® Canada if you have:
- Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
- Diagnosed hip osteoarthritis
- Knee or hip pain during walking
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Morning stiffness
- Difficulty standing from a chair
- Reduced balance
- Reduced mobility
- Concerns about becoming less active
- An interest in delaying joint replacement
The program may also be useful for people who simply want a structured approach rather than trying to figure out arthritis exercise alone.
What Should You Expect From Your First Visit?
Your first visit is not a fitness test designed to make you regret eating that second slice of cake.
The purpose is assessment.
Your physiotherapist can evaluate your movement, symptoms, functional abilities, and goals to determine whether the program is suitable.
From there, exercises can be adapted to your starting point.
Someone who is already active may begin at a different level than someone who has spent months avoiding movement.
That’s normal.
Rehabilitation is not about comparing yourself with the person next to you.
It’s about improving from where you are today.
The Bigger Picture: Managing Osteoarthritis for the Long Term
The biggest benefit of a program like GLA:D® may be that it teaches people to think beyond a six-week treatment period.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition.
There may be good weeks and bad weeks.
Some mornings your knee may cooperate beautifully.
Other mornings it may seem to have filed a formal complaint.
Long-term success often comes from learning how to adjust activity rather than giving up completely.
That may mean changing exercise intensity, taking short breaks, modifying an activity, or using professional guidance when symptoms change.
The goal is sustainable movement.
Final Thoughts: Is GLA:D® Canada Worth Considering?
The benefits of GLA:D® Canada go beyond a list of exercises. The program brings together education, supervised neuromuscular exercise, strengthening, functional movement, and ongoing monitoring to help people with knee and hip osteoarthritis become more confident and capable in everyday life.
The evidence supporting exercise for osteoarthritis continues to grow, while Canadian GLA:D® data show that the program has reached thousands of people across the country. Research also supports the importance of education and exercise as core parts of modern knee and hip osteoarthritis management.
GLA:D® is not a magic cure, and no responsible healthcare provider should promise that it will eliminate every person’s pain or prevent surgery. What it can offer is something much more practical: knowledge, structured movement, professional guidance, and tools that can help you take a more active role in managing osteoarthritis.
If knee or hip osteoarthritis is making everyday activities harder, Sync Move Rehab Centre can help you explore whether the GLA:D® Canada Program is right for you. Visit the official Sync Move Rehab Centre website or learn more about its GLA:D® Canada Program for knee and hip osteoarthritis to take the next step toward moving better, reducing pain, and staying active.
References
- GLA:D® Canada – Managing Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis
GLA:D® Canada Official Website - GLA:D® Canada – Education and Exercise
GLA:D® Canada Education and Exercise - Young JJ, Perruccio AV, Veillette CJH, McGlasson RA, Zywiel MG. The GLA:D® Canada program for knee and hip osteoarthritis: A comprehensive profile of program participants from 2017 to 2022. PLOS ONE, 2023.
Read the full PLOS ONE study - Zywiel M, Ellis K, Veillette CJH, Skou ST, McGlasson RA. Implementation of the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) Program across Canada for the Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. Healthcare Quarterly, 2021.
Read the PubMed record - Immediate outcomes following the GLA:D® program in Denmark, Canada and Australia. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2021.
Read the PubMed record - Cross-cultural adaptation and implementation of Good Life with osteoarthritis in Denmark (GLA:D™): group education and exercise for hip and knee osteoarthritis is feasible in Canada. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2018.
Read the study - The effect of geographic location and payor type on provincial-wide delivery of the GLA:D program for hip and knee osteoarthritis in Alberta, Canada. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2023.
Read the study - World Health Organization. Osteoarthritis Fact Sheet. 2023.
WHO Osteoarthritis Fact Sheet - Recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. 2023.
Read the PubMed record - Marriott KA et al. Are the Effects of Resistance Exercise on Pain and Function in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Dependent on Exercise Volume, Duration, and Adherence? 2024.
Read the PubMed record - Mao Y et al. Efficacy of home-based exercise in the treatment of pain and disability at the hip and knee in patients with osteoarthritis. 2024.
Read the PubMed record - Comparative efficacy and safety of exercise modalities in knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and network meta-analysis. The BMJ, 2025.
Read the BMJ study
