Keep moving
GLA:D therapy in Eindhoven
GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark) is an internationally proven programme for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. It combines education about your joint with supervised strength and stability training. It is the most researched osteoarthritis programme in the world, with registry data from tens of thousands of participants. No referral needed.
Proven programme
the most researched osteoarthritis programme in the world, with registry data from tens of thousands of participants.
Six weeks, measurable
baseline tests before, the same tests after: your progress in numbers.
Confidence in your joint
education plus training takes the fear out of moving with osteoarthritis.
What is gla:d® programme?
GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark) is an internationally proven programme for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. It combines education about your joint with supervised strength and stability training. It is the most researched osteoarthritis programme in the world, with registry data from tens of thousands of participants.
Who is it for?
- Knee or hip pain caused by osteoarthritis
- Stiffness when getting up or climbing stairs
- People advised to consider a knee or hip replacement
- Anyone who wants to stay active despite osteoarthritis
For which complaints do we use gla:d® programme?
Knee osteoarthritis
- Start-up pain and stiffness after sitting.
- Pain on stairs, especially going down.
- A knee that swells after longer walks.
Hip osteoarthritis
- Groin pain when walking and getting out of the car.
- Stiffness putting on shoes and socks.
- Night pain in a later stage.
Before or after joint replacement
- Training before surgery improves the result after.
- Rehabilitation after a new knee or hip.
- Doubt whether surgery is needed at all.
Staying active with osteoarthritis
- You want to keep walking, cycling and travelling.
- Painkillers help less than they used to.
- You want a plan instead of 'learn to live with it'.
When to book gla:d® programme?
Wondering whether it is 'bad enough' for the physio? In these situations an appointment is worthwhile, no referral needed:
- Diagnosed osteoarthritis: of knee or hip, and you want the proven first-choice treatment before considering surgery.
- Increasing start-up pain and stiffness: getting up, stairs and the first minutes of walking keep getting harder.
- A surgery advice you want a second route for: many GLA:D participants postpone or avoid a joint replacement.
- Fear of moving with a worn joint: you avoid activity because you worry about damage, education and guided training turn that around.
The GLA:D programme step by step
We start with a short intake about your complaints and goals, in plain English. We look at your load and recovery (work, sport, sleep, stress), test which movements provoke your complaint, and decide together whether this treatment adds value for you. You get a clear explanation and a concrete plan for the first weeks, and treatment starts the same appointment.
Proven results, measured in numbers
GLA:D is not just another exercise class. International registry data from tens of thousands of participants shows an average pain reduction of about a quarter, less use of painkillers and improved walking speed after the programme.
We repeat the baseline tests after six weeks, so you see your own progress in black and white. Many participants postpone joint replacement surgery, or find they no longer need it.
What participants achieve
The international GLA:D registries report roughly 25 percent less pain on average, reduced painkiller use, faster walking and higher confidence in the joint. Effects hold at the one-year follow-up for most participants who keep training.
Just as important: participants report understanding their osteoarthritis, knowing what a flare-up means and how to respond. That knowledge alone takes the fear out of moving, and fear of movement is one of osteoarthritis' worst enemies.
Costs and insurance
The GLA:D programme is billed as regular physiotherapy sessions. Physiotherapy is covered by your supplementary (aanvullende) insurance, depending on your policy, and it never touches your deductible (eigen risico). Many expat and international insurance plans cover physiotherapy as well. Bring your insurance details to the first appointment and we check your coverage together, before any costs surprise you. For osteoarthritis, some supplementary policies reimburse a generous number of sessions, worth checking before you start, and we help you do exactly that.
Adults (18+)
- Sessions are reimbursed from your supplementary (aanvullende) insurance, the number depends on your policy.
- For chronic conditions on the official list, the basic insurance covers from session 21 onwards (sessions 1–20 via supplementary insurance or self-paid); a doctor's referral is required for chronic status.
- Physiotherapy never counts towards your deductible (eigen risico), except basic-insurance COPD care.
Children up to 17
- With a chronic indication, physiotherapy is covered from the very first session by the basic insurance.
Preparation and aftercare
What to bring
- ID (first appointment) and your insurance details
- Clothes you can move in, think shorts or sports gear for hip and knee complaints
- A short history of your complaint: when it started, what worsens it, what eases it
- Any medical information: referral letter, scans or earlier reports, if you have them
- No special preparation needed, a water bottle is always a good idea
After the treatment
- Muscle soreness after training is normal and a good sign, joint pain that flares longer than 24 hours means we adjust the dose
- Keep the home exercises between sessions, twice a week training is the minimum effective dose
- Movement is maintenance: after the programme, keep the routine going, independently or in our gym
- Report flare-ups early, adjusting is always possible
Frequently asked questions about gla:d® programme
Book your appointment with Shauni
Plan your appointment with Shauni Hermans or one of our other gla:d® programme therapists. No referral needed, and we can usually plan you in within one working day.
Call 040-3400224 or email [email protected]. Locations at Philitelaan 59A, Fransebaan 584 and Artoislaan 6A.
Locations
Three locations in Eindhoven
Visit us in the heart of Eindhoven's creative and tech district, or at one of our two practices in the north of the city. Every location offers English-speaking care.
Strijp-S
Fysiotherapie Strijp-S
In Eindhoven's creative and tech district, on walking distance from the station. Easy to reach from the city centre, ASML in Veldhoven and TU/e.
Address
Philitelaan 59 A
5617 AK Eindhoven
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
08:00 – 20:00
Phone
040-3400224
Achtse Barrier · Fransebaan
Fysiotherapie Achtse Barrier
Our main Achtse Barrier practice in the north of Eindhoven (Woensel), with evening opening hours and easy parking at the door.
Address
Fransebaan 584
5627 RE Eindhoven
Opening hours
Mon–Thu 08:00 – 21:00
Fri 08:00 – 17:00
Phone
040-2424464
Achtse Barrier · Artoislaan
Fysiotherapie Achtse Barrier
Our second Achtse Barrier location, around the corner on the Artoislaan, close to Blixembosch and the A50.
Address
Artoislaan 6 A
5627 JB Eindhoven
Opening hours
Mon–Thu 08:00 – 17:30
Friday closed
Phone
040-2424464
Ready to book your first appointment?
No referral needed. Usually seen within one working day, at any of our three locations in Eindhoven.