Background and PurposeMuscle strength training is important for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). High-resistance exercise has been demonstrated to be more beneficial than low-resistance exercise for young subjects. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high- and low-resistance strength training in elderly subjects with knee OA.Subjects and MethodsOne hundred two subjects were randomly assigned to groups that received 8 weeks of high-resistance exercise (HR group), 8 weeks of low-resistance exercise (LR group), or no exercise (control group). Pain, function, walking time, and muscle torque were examined before and after intervention.ResultsSignificant improvement for all measures was observed in both exercise groups. There was no significant difference in any measures between HR and LR groups. However, based on effect size between exercise and control groups, the HR group improved more than the LR group.Discussion and ConclusionBoth high- and low-resistance strength training significantly improved clinical effects in this study. The effects of high-resistance strength training appear to be larger than those of low-resistance strength training for people with mild to moderate knee OA, although the differences between the HR and LR groups were not statistically significant.

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OBJECTIVE -To study the prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal glucose tolerance in transfusion-dependent ␤-thalassemic patients.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -A total of 89 transfusion-dependent ␤-thalassemic patients were interviewed. Diabetes was previously diagnosed in 14 of them. In the remaining 75 patients, 68 participated in an oral glucose tolerance test. Potential risk factors were identified using the independent t test, 2 test, and Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to select the independent risk factors that best predicted abnormal glucose tolerance. A two-tailed P value of Ͻ0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.RESULTS -The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 8.5% (7 of 82) and that of diabetes was 19.5% (16 of 82). Presentation with diabetic ketoacidosis was 31.1% (5 of 16). The risk factors for abnormal glucose tolerance found in transfusion-dependent ␤-thalassemic patients were serum ferritin concentration and hepatitis C infection.

The function of the VMO is important to consider in the rehabilitation of patients with PFPS.

Similar changes in pain reduction, functional improvement, and VMO hypertrophy were observed in both exercise groups. Incorporating hip adduction with leg-press exercise had no impact on outcome in patients with PFPS.

Clinical effects of CPFE were the same as those of CKCE except for knee extensor torque. The increase in knee extensor torque in CPFE patients was not as great as that seen in CKCE patients.