Background: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the major cause of chronic musculosceletal pain and mobility disability in the elderly. Physical exercise is an essential part of a physiotherapy programme for patients with knee osteoarthritis which helps to reduce joint pain and improves patients’ mobility or physical function. The purpose of this thesis is to present the effects of resistance exercise in relieving the disease symptoms and therefore the effects in treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A literature review of scientific literature (available full text articles), published from 2000 to 2011, was carried out to elucidate the effects of resistance exercise. Results: 14 studies have been included, 13 randomized controlled trials and one pilot study. Studies indicate that the resistance exercises are effective when treating patients affected by knee osteoarthritis. Resistance exercises have important effects in reducing joint pain, stiffness and improving physical function. This type of exercise increases muscle strength of the muscles surrounding knee joint and it improves joint proprioception. Conclusions: Exercise against resistance leads to reduction in physical disability and improves quality of life in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.
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