Managing Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Canada: Physiotherapists Leading the Way

Overview

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee are a major cause of disability for Canadians.

This session reviews the current knowledge on OA pathology, diagnosis, and treatment options, including the role of physiotherapy in helping Canadians improve their quality of life through the course of the disease from early diagnosis to setting realistic expectations for joint replacement surgery. Information about the evidence-based education and exercise program, GoodLife with OsteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®), will be provided, including the results of pain, medication use, quality of life, and physical activity through one year of follow-up. 

The session will close with the perspective of a person who is living with OA, describing their experience and their thoughts on how physiotherapists can improve the lives of individuals with hip and knee OA accross Canada. 

Speaker:  Rhona McGlasson

Rhona is the Executive Director of Bone and Joint Canada (BJC), which has a mandate to help implement best practices in bone and joint health across Canada. Under her leadership, BJC has been successful in building the knowledge translation network for orthopedic care across the country, including the development and implementation of National Toolkits for hip and knee replacements and hip fracture. She worked closely with the researchers from Denmark to bring the GLA:D® Programme to Canada in 2016 and is leading the implementation across the country. She has used her knowledge and experience to effectively launch GLA:D® Canada in all the provinces and territories. Rhona received her physiotherapy degree from the University of Greenwich in London and her MBA from the Edinburgh business school.