The results of this review suggest that an individual home-based or supervised exercise program is better than no intervention ; that supervised group physiotherapy is better than home exercises ; and that combined inpatient spa-exercise therapy followed by group physiotherapy is better than group physiotherapy alone
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic , inflammatory rheumatic disease .
Physiotherapy is considered an important part of the overall management of AS .
OBJECTIVES To summarise the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in the management of AS .
In-patient regime for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: an appraisal of improvement in spinal mobility and the effects of corticotrophin.
Twenty-one patients with ankylosing spondylitis were admitted for two weeks bedrest , postural and mobilizing exercises . Eleven received low-dose corticotrophin and 10 received placebo injections during their admission and all were review ed after two months . In-patient therapy result ed in significant improvements in function , early morning stiffness , spinal pain , lumbar extension and lateral flexion , finger-floor distance and wall-tragus distance . These improvements were maintained at two months . Biplanar radiography confirmed significant improvements of lumbar spine mobility in 14 male subjects studied . Less improvement occurred in neck movements and these were not maintained . There were no differences between the two treatment groups
The results of this review suggest that an individual home-based or supervised exercise program is better than no intervention ; that supervised group physiotherapy is better than home exercises ; and that combined inpatient spa-exercise therapy followed by group physiotherapy is better than group physiotherapy alone
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic , inflammatory rheumatic disease .
Physiotherapy is considered an important part of the overall management of AS .
OBJECTIVES To summarise the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in the management of AS .