Exercise Can Alleviate Symptoms of Many Chronic Conditions

Patients with life-threatening health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, can benefit from a personalized exercise program, according to a recent review of clinical trials.

Although exercise can improve overall health, it is currently under-prescribed by primary care professionals.
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To highlight the benefits of prescribing exercise instead of medication or surgery, researchers reviewed clinical trials that evaluated the efficiency of exercise in treating hip and knee osteoarthritis, chronic nonspecific low back pain, fall prevention, heart failure, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic fatigue syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found that in order for exercise to be beneficial, the treatment program must be personalized to each patient, just like medication or surgery.

Written as a guide for primary care professionals, the study outlines each condition and outcome of exercise treatment in separate boxes, which makes it easy to find information quickly. It also recommends who should provide the treatment, the mode of treatment, where it should take place, and materials needed.

Some recommendations included:

  • Low back pain: Improve trunk muscles, posture, and movement patterns through motor control exercises performed at therapist-led individual sessions.
  • COPD: Pulmonary rehabilitation through walking on an indoor track or using resistance bands or hand weights at home or at therapist-led group sessions.
  • Diabetes: Improving glycemic control through aerobics, resistance training, or both at home or at therapist-led group sessions.

“Exercise is an effective but neglected treatment for many chronic conditions,” researchers concluded. “However, similar to surgery, exercise is not a single entity but must be tailored to the condition.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Hoffmann TC, Maher CG, Briffa T, et al. Prescribing exercise interventions for patients with chronic conditions. CMAJ. Published ahead of print March 14, 2016. doi:10.1503 /cmaj.150684.