Exercise for people with osteoporosis: translating the science into clinical practice.

The "holy grail" of inquiry regarding exercise and osteoporosis has been identifying a type of exercise that builds bone. Investigation using animal models has provided many insights into how bone responds to mechanical loading, but translating these findings into an exercise prescription for patients with osteoporosis is difficult. Patients expect bone to respond to exercise in a linear fashion, such as they are accustomed to experiencing with muscles in response to progressive strength training or with the cardiopulmonary system in response to endurance training.

A clinical trial of a rehabilitation expert clinician versus usual care for providing manual wheelchairs.

Objectives: To determine the effect of differing methods of dispensing wheelchairs.

Design: Quasi-experimental by day of week.

Setting: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Group treatment improves trunk strength and psychological status in older women with vertebral fractures: results of a randomized, clinical trial.

Objectives: To assess whether group exercise and coping classes reduce physical and psychological impairments and functional disability in older women with prevalent vertebral fractures (VFs).

Design: Randomized, controlled trial (modified cross-over) with site as unit of assignment; testing at baseline and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

Setting: Nine North Carolina retirement communities.

Activity restriction among wheelchair users.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with activity restriction.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Patients prescribed a new wheelchair at one of two teaching hospitals (one Veterans Affairs and one private hospital).