Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disorder of joints that involves the axial skeleton and progressively causes limitation in spinal mobility. Exercise is considered as basic therapy of treatment for ankylosing spondylitis which helps to improve the functional capacity and quality of life in patients with this disorder. Today, there are numerous exercise programs for this disease.
Exercise is one of the most effective activities applied for the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis. It can help to relieve pain and maintain mobility of joints. It also helps to reduce stiffness of joints and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints. The goal of exercise is to maintain or restore spinal mobility, prevent spinal deformity, to improve or maintain posture and to maintain chest expansion. It also enhances the improvement of endurance, strength of muscles and flexibility of joints. In addition to this, exercise can effectively improve and maintain balance and co-ordination and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Different types of exercises can be applied during the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis such as conditioning and strengthening exercises, stretching exercises and breathing exercises. Conditioning and strengthening exercises can help to relive pain, maintain flexibility and mobility of joints and help to keep an upright posture. The strengthening exercises also improve the muscle power. Gentle stretching exercises are helpful to prevent joint stiffness and postural changes. Deep breathing exercises may help to improve lung capacity by maintaining chest expansion and rib mobility.
A physiotherapist can guide about range-of-motion exercises for mid back, low back and neck for the patients with ankylosing spondylitis. These exercises should be focused on specific troublesome areas. Other activities such as walking, swimming and cross-country skiing also help to improve and maintain good posture. Generally, low impact sports such as swimming or cycling are well tolerated and important for flexibility of joints and overall fitness.
Since most patients with ankylosing spondylitis experience stiffness in the morning, these exercises should be done in the morning. If there is pain, a warm bath is suggested prior to exercising. Since this disease can lead to forward curvature of spine, patients are instructed to perform back extension exercises and to maintain erect posture. A firm mattress is recommended for sleeping. Patients are also advised to avoid the use of pillow to prevent spine curvature. As this disease can limit the breathing capacity of lungs, patients with ankylosing spondylitis are instructed to expand their chest frequently everyday to reduce this limitation.
Besides exercises, other options of treatment for ankylosing spondylitis are physiotherapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massage and yoga.
