Moderate evidence supports exercise interventions in improving physical function , disease activity and chest expansion compared to controls ; there is low-level evidence of improved pain , stiffness , spinal mobility and cardiorespiratory function .
Supervised group exercise yields better outcomes than unsupervised home exercise .
The addition of aerobic components to flexibility programmes  improves cardiorespiratory outcomes , but not cardiovascular risk factors .
The most effective exercise protocol remains unclear .
Current evidence suggests that therapeutic exercises are beneficial for adults with ankylosing spondylitis ; effects on other SpA subtypes are unknown
To evaluate the effects of therapeutic exercise on pain , stiffness , quality of life , physical function , disease activity , health-related fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with spondyloarthritis ( SpA ) .
Is group physical therapy superior to individualized therapy in ankylosing spondylitis? A randomized controlled trial.
PURPOSE To study the effects of adding supervised group physical therapy to unsupervised individualized therapy in ankylosing spondylitis . METHODS One hundred forty-four patients were  r and omized to exercises at home , or the same plus weekly group physical therapy for 9 months . Endpoints were spinal mobility , fitness ( maximum work capacity by ergometry ) , functioning ( Sickness Impact Profile , Health Assessment Question naire for the Spondylarthropathies , and Functional Index ) , and patient 's global assessment of change on a 10-cm visual analogue scale . RESULTS Thoracolumbar flexion and extension increased by an average of 0.5 cm ( 9 % ) after home exercises , and by 0.9 cm ( 16 % ) after group therapy . Maximum load in ergometry decreased by 2 W ( 1 % ) after home exercises , but increased by 7 W ( 4 % ) after group therapy . Global assessment improved by 0.3 ( 6 % ) after home exercises , and by 1.7 ( 34 % ) after group therapy . These three differences were statistically significant . There were no significant differences in chest expansion , cervical rotation , or the self- assessment s of functioning . CONCLUSIONS Group physical therapy proved superior to individualized therapy in improving thoracolumbar mobility and fitness , and had an important effect on global health reported by the patients
Moderate evidence supports exercise interventions in improving physical function , disease activity and chest expansion compared to controls ; there is low-level evidence of improved pain , stiffness , spinal mobility and cardiorespiratory function .
Supervised group exercise yields better outcomes than unsupervised home exercise .
The addition of aerobic components to flexibility programmes  improves cardiorespiratory outcomes , but not cardiovascular risk factors .
The most effective exercise protocol remains unclear .
Current evidence suggests that therapeutic exercises are beneficial for adults with ankylosing spondylitis ; effects on other SpA subtypes are unknown
To evaluate the effects of therapeutic exercise on pain , stiffness , quality of life , physical function , disease activity , health-related fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with spondyloarthritis ( SpA ) .