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 .
Musculoskeletal pain in Europe: its impact and a comparison of population and medical perceptions of treatment in eight European countries.
OBJECTIVES To describe the impact of musculoskeletal pain ( MP ) ; to compare management of MP by the population and by primary care physicians ; and to identify misconceptions about treatment . METHODS 5803 people with MP and 1483 primary care physicians , r and omly selected , in eight European countries were interviewed by telephone . A structured question naire was used to ask about usual management of MP and perceived benefits and risks of treatment .  Current health status ( SF-12 ) was also assessed . RESULTS From primary care physicians ' perceptions , MP appears to be well managed . All presenting patients are offered some form of treatment , 90 % or more doctors are trying to improve patients ' quality of life , and most are aware and concerned about the risks of treatment with NSAIDs . From a population perspective , up to 27 % of people with pain do not seek medical help and of those who do , several wait months/years before seeing a doctor . 55 % or fewer patients who have seen a doctor are currently receiving prescription treatment for their pain . Communication between doctors and patients is poor ; few patients are given information about their condition ; and many have misconceptions about treatment . CONCLUSIONS Management of MP is similar across eight European countries , but there is discordance between physician and patient perspectives of care . Some people with pain have never sought medical help despite being in constant/daily pain . Those who do seek help receive little written information or explanation and many have misperceptions about the benefits and risks of treatment that limit their ability to actively participate in decisions about their care
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 .