The Rethink OA Program

Move With Confidence Again — Even With Knee Osteoarthritis

In about two hours, learn what your pain really means, what’s safe to do, and how to get back to the activities you’ve been putting off. A self-paced online program built from Stanford University research and tested in a randomized clinical trial.

Start the Program — $59 One-Time

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Read the published study

When you stop trusting your knees, your world gets smaller

Maybe you’ve skipped the hike, taken the elevator, or stopped kneeling in the garden. Maybe someone told you your knee is “bone on bone,” and now every twinge feels like a warning. If you have knee osteoarthritis, you’ve probably asked yourself:

  • “Am I making it worse every time it hurts?”
  • “Should I stop walking — or push through?”
  • “Is a knee replacement just... inevitable?”
  • “Can I still trust my body?”

Here’s what the science says: hurt does not always equal harm. Pain is real — and it’s shaped by more than what an X-ray shows. When you understand what your pain actually means, movement stops feeling like a threat. Rethink OA was built to give you that understanding — clearly, kindly, and in an afternoon.

 

This isn’t “just think positive.” It’s the science of how mindsets change what you do.

A mindset is the lens you use to interpret what’s happening in your body. “My knee is worn out, so activity will wear it out faster” is a mindset. So is “my joints are adaptable, and the right movement strengthens them.” Only one is supported by modern evidence — and the one you hold changes what you do every single day.

In our randomized controlled trial, people who completed Rethink OA didn’t just feel differently about osteoarthritis. They moved significantly more, feared movement less, felt more capable of managing their symptoms, and were less likely to see surgery as their only way out.

Gain Full Access to the Program for Just $59

Inside the Program

Four short modules. One new way to move through life.

Short films featuring Stanford experts and real people living with osteoarthritis, paired with reflection prompts that make it personal. About two hours in total, at your own pace.

1

Understanding Osteoarthritis

Unlearn the “wear and tear” story. See what osteoarthritis actually is — and why pain doesn’t always mean damage — so every twinge stops feeling like a warning.

10–20 min
2

Move to Improve

Your joints are built to adapt. Learn how the right kind of movement supports cartilage, builds strength, and eases stiffness — and how to tell what’s safe for you.

10–20 min
3

Enjoying Exercise

Movement shouldn’t feel like a prescription. Find small, doable ways to make activity easier, more enjoyable, and connected to the life you want back.

10–20 min
4

Mindsets Matter

Bring it together: how mindsets shape pain, movement, and possibility — and the small shifts you can keep using for the rest of your life.

20–30 min

Unlimited access — revisit any module whenever you need a reminder or a reset.

Everything You Need To Get Started

  • 4 guided modules — short films featuring Stanford experts in orthopedics, bioengineering, psychology, and health behavior, plus real people living with osteoarthritis
  • Reflection questions and exercises that turn the science into your plan
  • About 2 hours total, entirely at your own pace
  • Unlimited access — return anytime you need a reminder or a reset
  • Start immediately on any phone, tablet, or computer

Ongoing programs for joint pain often cost hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Rethink OA is a one-time $59, with nothing to cancel.

Gain Full Access for $59

The Science Behind the Program

Tested the way OA care should be — in a randomized controlled trial

We tested Rethink OA against an education program and against no program at all, in 408 adults with knee osteoarthritis — and published the results in a peer-reviewed Nature Portfolio journal. One month later:

2 in 3
increased physical activity
An average gain of about 25%, one month after a program of less than 2 hours1
55%
overcame fear of movement
Among participants who began the program with high fear of movement2
44%
felt less need for surgery
One month later, across all participants3
★ 4.8 / 5 — would recommend to friends & family with OA Randomized controlled trial · N = 408 Published in  npj Digital Medicine (Nature Portfolio) Less than 2 hours, fully online

166% of Rethink OA participants increased physical activity (PASE); average gain +39 points (≈ +25%), significantly greater than no program (P = 0.001). 2Of participants with elevated fear of movement at baseline, 55% dropped below the elevated threshold at one month vs. 19% with no program. 344% reported less perceived need for surgery vs. 22% with no program; measures attitudes, not surgery rates. All outcomes self-reported at one-month follow-up. Boswell MA, et al. npj Digital Medicine 7, 285 (2024).

Read the published study

From People Who’ve Been Where You Are

“After being diagnosed with osteoarthritis last year at age 64, I was determined not to let it define me or my active lifestyle as a lifelong athlete. The education in Rethink OA reinforced what I needed to hear: smart, consistent movement, not fear, is the path forward. Today I'm back to swimming, cycling, Pilates, strength training, running slowly again, and happily keeping up with my new granddaughter, pain-free. For such an affordable investment, Rethink OA offers knowledge, confidence, and a practical roadmap that can truly change how you think about living with osteoarthritis.”
M
Marilou M.
65 years

“I thought surgery was my only option. Now, I am empowered to improve my situation.”

Study participant

“I realize that exercise will not further damage my joints, and by changing my mindset, I can exercise more and improve my strength.”

Study participant

“In six months I’ll drop you a line and say: guess what — no surgery, and I’m hiking up and down those hills.”

Rethink OA member

Is Rethink OA Right For You?

This is for you if:

  • You have knee osteoarthritis or ongoing knee pain and feel unsure what’s safe
  • You’ve been avoiding activities you love out of fear of making things worse
  • You’ve been told to “just keep moving” — but nobody explained how, or why it’s safe
  • You want an evidence-based starting point that feels hopeful and practical

It may not be the right fit if:

  • You’re looking for a diagnosis or a personalized medical treatment plan
  • You prefer hands-on care to a self-guided online program 

Rethink OA is educational and supportive. It complements — never replaces — care from your doctor, physical therapist, or healthcare team.

Start Moving with Confidence in Under 2 Hours

Free Resources

Not ready for the program? Start here — free.

Evidence-based tools for the questions people with knee osteoarthritis ask most, from the researchers behind Rethink OA.

Free Quiz

Not sure where to start? Find out in 2 minutes.

Answer 8 quick questions about pain, movement, and confidence — and get a personalized snapshot of where your biggest opportunity is, plus the first step that could make the most difference for you.

8 questions · 2 minutes · No wrong answers
Take the free quiz
Free Guide

“Is It Safe to Move?” — the question everyone with knee OA asks

Get our free, evidence-based guide to understanding what your pain means, which signals matter, and how to take your first confident steps back to activity.

Free downloadable PDF
Get the free guide
Why knee osteoarthritis pain is more than what shows up on an X-ray — article illustration
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Common Questions

Honest answers, before you decide

Will this cure my osteoarthritis or make my pain disappear?
No — and we'd encourage caution with anything that promises that. Osteoarthritis is a manageable condition, not one with a quick cure. In our clinical trial, the clearest changes were in what people did and how they felt about moving: significantly more physical activity, less fear of movement, more confidence managing symptoms, and less perceived need for surgery. Pain itself? In the trial, 47% of participants reported less pain one month later — but the difference vs. no program wasn't statistically significant, so we won't promise pain relief. What we can say: many people find pain easier to live with once it stops feeling like a threat.
Is it safe for me to exercise if my knee is "bone on bone"?
For most people with knee osteoarthritis, appropriate physical activity is not only safe — it's recommended by every major clinical guideline, and it supports joint health, strength, and function. "Bone on bone" sounds frightening, but it describes an X-ray finding, not your destiny. The program walks you through what the evidence says, and we always recommend checking with your own clinician about your specific situation.
How much time does it take?
About two hours in total: four modules of 10–20 minutes of short films each, plus reflection questions. You go at your own pace and keep unlimited access, so you can revisit any module whenever you need a reset.
How is this different from reading about osteoarthritis online?
We actually tested that question. In our randomized controlled trial, one group received Rethink OA and another received a high-quality education program of the same length. The Rethink OA group improved significantly more in fear of movement, confidence managing symptoms, osteoarthritis knowledge, and perceived need for surgery. Understanding the facts helps — changing the lens you see them through helps more.
Does this replace my doctor or physical therapist?
No. Rethink OA is an educational program, not medical care, diagnosis, or a personalized treatment plan. It's designed to complement the care you're already receiving — many participants found it made them more engaged with tools like exercise and self-management.
Can I pay with my HSA or FSA?
The program may be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your healthcare provider. See details here.

Go Deeper Into The Science

Read the peer-reviewed clinical trial in npj Digital Medicine, a Nature Portfolio journal.

Read the Study

Prefer plain language? Read the story behind the research from our founder.

Read the Article

HSA and FSA Eligibility

Rethink OA may be eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your healthcare provider.

More Information on HSA and FSA

Understand Your Pain.

Move with Confidence.

Understand your pain, stay active, and support your joints—starting today.

You deserve to feel at home in your body again

Osteoarthritis may be part of your story, but it doesn’t get to write the whole thing. In about two hours, you can understand your pain, stop guessing what’s safe, and take your first confident steps back toward the life you’ve been postponing.

One-time $59 · Unlimited access · Start today

Start Moving With Confidence