[Physio Explained] Hip and knee OA rehabilitation: what do we currently know? with Dr Milly Bell

First-line management for knee osteoarthritis centers on education, targeted exercise therapy, and weight management, as supported by global clinical guidelines. The GLAD (Good Life with Osteoarthritis Denmark) program serves as a primary model for this approach, demonstrating significant clinical benefits including a 29% reduction in knee pain, a 49% decrease in medication reliance, and a 14% increase in walking speed. Dr. Milly Bell, a physiotherapist and researcher at La Trobe University, emphasizes that while exercise therapy effectively addresses knee-specific function, it must be distinguished from broader physical activity. Achieving long-term health outcomes requires integrating behavior change strategies and patient-centered goal setting to help individuals overcome barriers to movement. By prioritizing non-surgical interventions, clinicians can significantly improve patient quality of life and often delay or eliminate the necessity for joint replacement surgery.