title: Progressive resistance exercise in physical therapy: a summary of systematic reviews.
abstract: Progressive resistance exercise (PRE) is a method of increasing the ability of muscles to generate force. However, the effectiveness and safety of PRE for clients of physical therapists are not well known. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence on positive and negative effects of PRE as a physical therapy intervention. Electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews on PRE and any relevant randomized trials published after the last available review. The search yielded 18 systematic reviews under major areas of physical therapy: cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and gerontology. Across conditions, PRE was shown to improve the ability to generate force, with moderate to large effect sizes that may carry over into an improved ability to perform daily activities. Further research is needed to determine the potential negative effects of PRE, how to maximize carryover into everyday activities, and what effect, if any, PRE has on societal participation.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Centre, School of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia 3086. N.Taylor@latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Nicholas F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Damiano
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001168:Arthritis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001416:Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018579:Patient Selection; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012146:Rest; D012449:Safety; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D016474:Weight-Bearing