Clients at Fysioplein feel 'stronger and more stable' with Danish therapy
Thanks to GLA:D – a treatment pathway for osteoarthritis that is relatively new in the Netherlands and originated in Denmark – hip and knee surgeries can be postponed and, in some cases, even cancelled. Fysioplein GLA:D (Good Life with osteo-Arthritis in Denmark) is now successfully applying it. Two enthusiastic patients, Petra and Gérard, talk about their experiences with the therapy, which literally keeps them on their feet.
It started, says Petra (61), with tendonitis in her left knee. An examination for this complaint revealed an unpleasant side effect: her knee showed signs of osteoarthritis. "According to the orthopedist," she says, "I was in the first stage, which means that I did not yet qualify for, for example, an artificial knee."
“Then, as a patient, you essentially end up in a vacuum. You want to keep functioning, but you notice the pain increasing. I am an avid hiker, even during holidays in the mountains. But gradually I noticed that walking was becoming increasingly difficult. At a certain point, I could no longer stand or even just sit. I also had trouble with my knee at night.”
The GP's advice was to 'give the affected joint a little rest', but at the same time to keep mobilizing the knee in order to keep the condition under control. And to take paracetamol if she couldn't fall asleep due to the pain. Furthermore, it was important to spare the knee, by losing excess weight, for example.
“But,” states Petra, “for that, you do need to be able to move. Just losing weight won’t eliminate the nagging discomfort and increasing instability of the knee. After a month and a half without any improvement, I thought: figure it out yourselves. Nowadays, you can go to a physiotherapist without a referral. After making a few phone calls, I ended up at FysiopleinThat practice works with a specific treatment program where you learn to manage osteoarthritis in the hip and knee, without immediately being indicated for surgery.
Gérard (70) also turned to FysiopleinThe enthusiastic skier also suffered from osteoarthritis, in his case in both knees. He had undergone surgery for a torn meniscus on one of the joints at the time. The orthopedic diagnosis was: one entirely new artificial knee and a partial prosthesis in the other leg.
“I sometimes get the impression,” he says, “that orthopedists are quite trigger-happy—they are, so to speak, itching to slide in an artificial knee or hip. You hear it around you more and more often, don't you: 'Hey, just get an artificial knee.' As if all problems would be solved then. But those are major procedures that also carry risks, certainly with a knee prosthesis. Think of contracting an infection. And it remains an operation, of course. With all the lengthy rehabilitation that entails.”
Just like Petra, Gérard chose at Fysioplein for the treatment trajectory with GLA:D, the exercise and education program for people with osteoarthritis in the knee or hip. The therapy was scientifically developed in Denmark in a trial with 100.00 people and is administered in our country by specially trained physiotherapists. The core of GLA:D: a clear explanation of the affected joints and a program tailored to the individual patient, to which the client actively contributes to reducing symptoms.
In addition to that theoretical knowledge, there is practical training: workouts to strengthen the legs, hips, and core, thereby making them more resilient. The exercises are basic, simple, and can also be performed at home, with the resistance band being an indispensable tool for creating resistance.
The effect: pain decreases, patients move better and more smoothly, and uncertainty surrounding falls, for example, diminishes significantly. The end result: burdensome knee and hip surgeries that can be postponed and sometimes even cancelled. In Gérard's case, the pain-relieving injections he had administered at regular intervals are also unnecessary.
Both Petra and Gérard speak very highly of GLA:D. Gérard: “I started last year and noticed very quickly that I was becoming stronger and more stable. I move considerably better. Look, a sprint is out of the question now, but I have already skied off-piste. I can feel in everything that my back, stomach, and hips have become stronger. I have my balance back.”
And Petra: “Really, I experienced significant progress after just two weeks. I felt less pain and stood much more firmly on my legs. In that sense, GLA:D also incorporates an element of fall prevention. No, I never considered an artificial knee. I mainly said to myself: how do I actually avoid that prosthesis?”
“GLA:D is a great alternative,” she continues. “As the years go by, everyone has to deal with wear and tear to a greater or lesser extent. And just like everyone else, I’ve fallen at some point. I used to row fanatically. Looking back, I suspect that I severely overloaded my knees during my student days with the training that went with it. And tapering off? We hadn’t heard of that back then. The osteoarthritis must have started there.”
Both do emphasize, however, that GLA:D requires some homework – adherence and discipline are important pillars of the program. Petra: "I have been doing my exercises every other day for two years now. Initially, I came weekly." FysiopleinNow I go once every three weeks. The program is regularly adjusted to what I can do now. My physiotherapist always keeps a finger on the pulse: she corrects me if I – unconsciously – do things wrong. Naturally, she closely monitors my progress and adjusts where necessary.
“Honestly: in the beginning, I did cheat a few times. Not today, I’d think. But that only hurts yourself. You notice it immediately.” And Gérard: “I go faithfully, alongside my homework with GLA:D, twice a week.” Fysioplein“Over the past year, I have made really great progress. My cartilage will not return to my knees, but with GLA:D therapy as an alternative, I function just fine.”
Petra: "Two years ago I could barely stand from the pain. The first time I went to Fysioplein I used to walk with two canes and had to take the elevator. Now I walk without canes, have much less trouble, and know exactly what to do if I accidentally misstep. At home, I can just go grocery shopping again – that was a regular chore for my husband for a long time. My motivation and commitment are to continue with GLA:D for as long as possible so that hopefully no surgery will be necessary.”
