
Resistance training in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: a systematic review.
The effects of musculoskeletal restistance training (RT) is well known in the healthy population. The objective of this review is to summarise the effects of RT in a rehabilitation context summarising effects on strength, functional ability, pain and quality of life factors and critically reviews the validity of the included studies. Inclusion criteria: a) studies involving an intervention period of at least 4 weeks. b) studies incorporating more than one clinical outcome c) patients were clinically diagnosed d) studies using external resistance in addition to bodyweight.
The review finds that RT is a valid therapeutic tool in treating common musculoskeletal injuries, especially if classified as chronic. RT can develop muscle strength, reduce pain and improve functional ability in patients with chronic low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, chronic tendinopathy and rehabilitation after hip replacement surgery. RT is effective within age and gender groups. An approach of ⋗ 70% of 1RM (high intensity) seems to superior to a low intensity approach.This high intensity approach does not increase the likelihood of injury if the these loads are gradually introduced.
Further reseach is needed to indicate optimal rehablitation protocols, however new findings indicate that programme designs known from healthy populations may be applied to an injured population > From Kristensen et al., Br J Sports Med 46 (2012) 719–726. All rights reserved to BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
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