Effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, knee osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.

Background and aims: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, and osteoporosis are major locomotive diseases in the elderly population. The objective of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of exercise in these three major locomotive diseases. Methods: We reviewed the relevant literature, i.e., systematic reviews and meta-analyses searched with PubMed. Results: There is no sufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of exercise for LSS. However, muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises are effective in reducing pain and improving the physical function in patients with mild to moderate OA of the knee. On the other hand, aerobics, weight bearing and resistance exercises are effective in increasing the bone mineral density of the spine in postmenopausal women, and walking is effective for the hips. Muscle strengthening, balance training and traditional Chinese Tai Chi reduce the fall risk in the elderly. Conclusion: Based on the review of the literature, appropriate exercises should be emphasized for elderly patients especially for those with mild to moderate OA of the knee or osteoporosis.