PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .
Effectiveness of home exercise on pain and disability from osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised controlled trial
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of a home based exercise programme , design ed to improve quadriceps strength , on knee pain and disability . Methods —191 men and women with knee pain aged 40–80 were recruited from the community and r and omised to exercise ( n=113 ) or no intervention ( n=78 ) . The exercise group performed strengthening exercises daily for six months . The primary outcome measure was change in knee pain ( Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis index ( WOMAC ) ) . Secondary measures included visual analogue scales ( VAS ) for pain on stairs and walking and WOMAC physical function scores . Results —WOMAC pain score reduced by 22.5 % in the exercise group and by 6.2 % in the control group ( between group difference p<0.05 , unpairedt test).VAS scores for pain also reduced in the exercise group compared with the control group ( p<0.05 ) . Physical function scores reduced by 17.4 % in the exercise group and were unchanged in controls ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusion —A simple programme of home quadriceps exercises can significantly improve self reported knee pain and function
PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .