Exercise therapy is effective for patients with knee osteoarthritis , sub-acute ( 6 to 12 weeks ) and chronic ( > or = 12 weeks ) low back pain , cystic fibrosis , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and intermittent claudication .
Furthermore , there are indications that exercise therapy  is effective for patients with ankylosing spondylitis , hip osteoarthritis , Parkinson 's disease , and for patients who have suffered a stroke .
There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of exercise therapy  for patients with neck pain , shoulder pain , repetitive strain injury , rheumatoid arthritis , asthma , and bronchiectasis .
Exercise therapy is not effective for  patients with acute low back pain .
It is concluded that exercise therapy is effective for a wide range of chronic disorders
The purpose of this project was to summarise the available evidence on the effectiveness of exercise therapy  for patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal , nervous , respiratory , and cardiovascular systems .
The effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the hip or knee . METHODS A r and omized single blind , clinical trial was conducted in a primary care setting . Patients with hip or knee OA by American College of Rheumatology criteria were selected . Two intervention groups were compared . Both groups received treatment from the patients ' general practitioner , including patient education and medication if necessary . The experimental group also received exercise therapy from a physiotherapist in primary care . The treatment period was 12 weeks . The main outcome measures were pain , medication use ( nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs , NSAID ) and observed disability . RESULTS A total of 201 patients were r and omized .  Exercise therapy was associated with a reduction of pain in the past week ( difference in change -17.0 ; 95 % CI -23.6 , -10.4 ) and observed disability ( -0.19 ; 95 % CI -0.38 ; -0.01 ) . Effect sizes were medium ( 0.58 ) and small ( 0.28 ) , respectively . No effect of  exercise therapy  was found for the use of NSAID . Additional beneficial effects ( p = 0.05 ) were found for the use of  paracetamol  ( effect size 0.33 ) , global effect as perceived by the patient ( effect size 0.68 ) , and muscle strength of the hip ( effect size 0.34 ) . CONCLUSION After 12 weeks , exercise therapy is effective in reducing pain and disability . The size of the effects is medium and small , respectively
Exercise therapy is effective for patients with knee osteoarthritis , sub-acute ( 6 to 12 weeks ) and chronic ( > or = 12 weeks ) low back pain , cystic fibrosis , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and intermittent claudication .
Furthermore , there are indications that exercise therapy  is effective for patients with ankylosing spondylitis , hip osteoarthritis , Parkinson 's disease , and for patients who have suffered a stroke .
There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of exercise therapy  for patients with neck pain , shoulder pain , repetitive strain injury , rheumatoid arthritis , asthma , and bronchiectasis .
Exercise therapy is not effective for  patients with acute low back pain .
It is concluded that exercise therapy is effective for a wide range of chronic disorders
The purpose of this project was to summarise the available evidence on the effectiveness of exercise therapy  for patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal , nervous , respiratory , and cardiovascular systems .