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Optimum Osteoarthritis Program

For managing knee and hip osteoarthritis, the Optimum OA program emphasises exercise therapy, education, and weight loss as key 1st line treatments for Osteoarthritis.
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An elderly man does leg extensions with a rubber exercise band while being guided by a physiotherapist

About the Optimum OA Program

The Optimum OA Program is a dedicated approach to enhancing joint health for individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis. It integrates personalised education and neuromuscular exercise sessions to provide patients with the tools they need to manage their condition. The program includes 12 group exercise sessions and education sessions, each lasting an hour, focusing on imparting knowledge and practical exercises.

Additionally, the program offers a 30-minute consultation with a registered dietitian to assess dietary habits and provide customised nutritional advice, emphasising the importance of diet in joint health. Progress is tracked from the outset, with follow-up assessments at 3 and 12 months, to monitor improvements and maintain motivation. Delivered by Optimum Health Solutions registered Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists, we adhering to the latest evidence-based guidelines to ensure the Optimum OA Program benefits the long-term health of its participants.

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Who the Optimum OA Program Is For

Suitable For

  • Adults with hip or knee osteoarthritis
  • Individuals experiencing joint pain or stiffness
  • Anyone wanting to stay active and improve mobility

Ideal Candidates

  • People wishing to avoid or delay surgery
  • Those needing guidance on safe, effective exercise
  • Individuals seeking long-term osteoarthritis managemen

Conditions We Treat

  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Hip osteoarthritis
  • Early joint degeneration and reduced joint function

The Optimum OA Program Includes

1.

Personalised Education and Exercise Sessions

The Optimum OA Program prioritises patient education as a cornerstone of osteoarthritis management.

Each participant engages in 12 carefully designed group sessions that combine education with neuromuscular exercises.

These sessions, lasting an hour each, are not just about imparting knowledge; they are interactive, allowing patients to learn and practice exercises that can alleviate symptoms and improve joint function.

The exercises are tailored to each individual’s condition and ability, ensuring a personalised approach that respects the unique challenges faced by each participant.

2.

Improve Capacity Building

Nutrition is a critical aspect of managing osteoarthritis, and the Optimum OA Program includes a dedicated 30-minute consultation with a registered dietitian.

This session is more than just a discussion about food; it’s a personalised assessment of dietary habits with the goal of optimising joint health.

The dietitian provides tailored guidance, helping participants understand how their diet affects their condition and what changes can lead to better health outcomes.

3.

Progress Tracking and Motivation:

Monitoring progress is essential for motivation and for gauging the effectiveness of the treatment.

The Optimum OA Program systematically collects baseline data at the beginning and conducts follow-up assessments at 3 and 12 months.

These checkpoints serve as milestones for participants to recognize their achievements and for the program’s professionals to fine-tune the treatment plan.

This structured approach ensures that participants remain engaged and motivated throughout their journey to better joint health.

Supporting Better Movement, Over Time

What You Can Expect From the Program

The Optimum OA Program is built to support people living with hip or knee osteoarthritis through a clear, structured pathway. We combine education, guided exercise, and multidisciplinary input to help you move more comfortably and feel more confident in your body. Rather than guessing or pushing through pain, we focus on understanding your joints, your limits, and how to move safely within them.

Many participants report benefits such as:

  • Less joint stiffness and discomfort during daily movement
  • Better strength, balance, and overall mobility
  • Increased confidence with walking, stairs, and everyday tasks
  • A clearer understanding of osteoarthritis and how to manage symptoms
  • Greater ease with activities that matter to them
  • Motivation from structured check-ins and progress tracking

Support That Continues Beyond the Sessions

This isn’t a short-term fix. With planned reviews and follow-ups at 3 and 12 months, the program is designed to support sustainable habits that protect joint health over time. Delivered by Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists, the Optimum OA Program aligns with current best-practice guidelines for osteoarthritis care. It helps you stay active, informed, and supported as your needs change.
Take your first steps in the Optimum OA Program
A woman does squats with an exercise band around her quads while being trained by physiotherapist/exercise physiologists
a woman does a deep lunge with weights under the supervision of a physiotherapist
a man tests his hip mobility with a stretch band with a physiotherapist

Inspired by the GLA:D® Evidence-Based Approach

The Optimum OA Program draws inspiration from the principles of the GLA:D initiative, a globally recognized program developed in Denmark for managing knee and hip osteoarthritis.

There are a number of certified GLA:D clinicians who work throughout Optimum Health Solutions and they have successfully adopted GLA:D’s evidence-based approach.

The Optimum OA Program incorporates similar strategies of patient education, exercise therapy, and also integrates Dietetics. This allows Optimum Health Solutions multi-disciplinary team to effectively manage osteoarthritis through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach

By adapting these core elements, the Optimum OA Program aims to replicate the success of GLA:D in improving pain, function, and quality of life for individuals with osteoarthritis.

GLA:D Logo

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Referrer’s Hub

Whether you’re a new referrer or you’ve used our services before, the Optimum referrers hub has all your needs. With one click you can make enquiries, make referrals and check all of our clinics’ service capacities.

Visit The Referrers Hub Here
Paediatric therapist from Optimum Health Solutions sitting with a young child in a play-based clinic

Frequently Asked Questions

We love standard physio, but treating Osteoarthritis requires a team, not just a treatment table. If you’ve tried having your knee rubbed, heated, or strapped and found the relief only lasted a day, you aren’t alone. That’s passive treatment. We are about active change.

The Optimum OA Program is different for three big reasons:

  1. It’s a Structured Roadmap: We don’t make it up as we go. We use the principles of the GLA:D program—a world-famous approach from Denmark that has helped tens of thousands of people avoid surgery. You get 12 structured sessions that build on each other.
  2. The Food Connection: We are one of the few programs that includes a consultation with a Registered Dietitian. Why? Because carrying even a little extra weight puts massive pressure on our knees. Plus, certain foods can calm down inflammation. We tackle the problem from the inside out.
  3. The Kitchen Table Community: You aren’t doing this alone in a cold room. You’re in a small group of people who are facing the exact same challenges. There’s no judgment, just support. When you see someone else doing a squat they couldn’t do last week, you’ll realize you can do it too.

It sounds a bit strange at first, doesn’t it? But the link between what we eat and how our joints feel is incredibly strong.

First, there’s the physics: for every kilogram of body weight we lose, we take four kilograms of pressure off our knees with every step. That’s a huge amount of relief for a sore joint!

Second, there’s the chemistry: some foods fuel inflammation (swelling and heat) in the body, while others help cool it down. Our Dietitians aren’t here to put you on a restrictive “diet” or wave a finger at you. They are here to help you find simple, delicious swaps that can lower inflammation and help your joints feel lighter. It’s about nourishing your knees, not just your stomach.

This isn’t a boot camp! The “group” setting is for support, not competition. While you might be in the room with others, you are working on your own personalized program. If Mary is doing deep squats and you are doing gentle chair stands, that is perfectly fine. Our Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists are experts at “scaling” exercises. That means we can take any movement and make it easier or harder depending on how you feel that day. Some days you might feel like a champion; other days you might feel stiff. We adjust the plan to match your energy. You can never “fail” this program; you can only progress at your own pace.
Absolutely. Optimum Health Solutions is a registered NDIS provider, and we love supporting our participants to stay mobile and independent. If your NDIS plan includes funding for “Improved Health and Wellbeing” or “Improved Daily Living” (Capacity Building), we can likely tailor this program to you. Because we have Exercise Physiologists, Dietitians, and Physios all under one roof, we can build the program around your specific goals—whether that’s walking to the shops, playing with the grandkids, or just feeling safer on your feet at home. Not sure if your plan covers it? We offer a Free Discovery Session for NDIS participants. You can come in, meet the team, see the studio, and we can look at your plan together—no strings attached. We handle the paperwork so you can focus on the movement.
Yes, yes, and yes! Think of this as “Pre-hab.” Major surgery is like running a marathon—you wouldn’t show up to the starting line without training, right? The stronger your muscles are before you go into surgery, the faster and easier your recovery will be after the surgery. In fact, many of our clients find that after completing the Optimum OA Program, their pain reduces so much that they decide to delay surgery or even cancel it altogether. We can’t promise that for everyone, but wouldn’t it be nice to have that option? Worst case scenario: You go into surgery stronger and fitter. Best case scenario: You feel so good you don’t need it yet. It’s a win-win.

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