A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Liikunta kroonisten sairauksien hoidossa (2014)
Exercise therapy in the treatment of chronic disease

Kujala, U. (2014). Liikunta kroonisten sairauksien hoidossa. Suomen lääkärilehti, 69(25-32), 1877-1882. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/katsausartikkeli/liikunta-kroonisten-sairauksien-hoidossa/

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kujala, Urho

Journal or series: Suomen lääkärilehti

ISSN: 0039-5560

eISSN: 2489-7434

Publication year: 2014

Volume: 69

Issue number: 25-32

Pages range: 1877-1882

Publisher: Suomen lääkäriliitto

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/katsausartikkeli/liikunta-kroonisten-sairauksien-hoidossa/

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93137

Abstract

The number of meta-analyses based on randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of physical exercise therapy as an important component in the treatment of specific diseases and related functional impairments has recently increased substantially. This paper briefly summarizes the evidence so far on the effects of exercise therapy in the treatment and rehabilitation of different chronic diseases. The most direct effect of exercise therapy or training is an increase in physical fitness and function, which has been shown to occur in most of the chronic diseases studied. Improvements have been recorded in muscular, aerobic and task-specific functions depending on the training programmes. As expected, changes of cardio-metabolic risk factor levels have been studied most in patients with cardio-vascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, where improvements in lipid risk factor levels have been documented. Exercise reduces glycosylated haemoglobin levels among patients with type 2 diabetes. Data on the positive effect of exercise on disease progression in hypertension, COPD, asthma and depression patients as well as on reduced re-infarction rates in myocardial infarction patients is also available. There are meta-analyses showing reduction of pain symptoms in mild to moderate osteoarthritis, chronic low-back pain and fibromyalgia. Finally, exercise therapy groups compared to control groups have been reported to have reduced disease specific mortality in coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure patients. Since long-term adherence is a general problem in exercise therapy, supervised exercise programmes usually give better results than non-supervised programmes, although the cost-effectiveness of non-supervised programmes may be higher. A challenge for the future will be to improve the infrastructure to support safe exercising among patients with chronic disease.

Keywords: chronic diseases; musculoskeletal diseases; treatment methods; physical training; exercise therapy; efficacy

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2014

JUFO rating: 1