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 ) .
Rehabilitation Treatment in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Stabilized with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Objective . To assess the 2- ( T1 ) and 6-month ( T2 ) followup effects on pain , spine mobility , physical function , and disability outcome of a rehabilitation intervention in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) stabilized with tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) inhibitor therapy . Methods . Sixty-two out patients ( 49 men , 13 women , mean age 47.5 ± 10.6 yrs ) were r and omized to rehabilitation plus an educational-behavioral ( n = 20 ) program , to an educational-behavioral program only ( n = 20 ) , or to a control group ( n = 22 ) . The educational-behavioral program included 2 educational meetings and 12 rehabilitation exercise sessions ( stretching , strengthening , chest and spine/hip joint flexibility exercises ) , which patients then performed at home . Outcome assessment at the end of rehabilitation training ( T1 ) and at T2 was based on spinal pain intensity in the previous 4 weeks by self-report visual analog scale ( VAS ; 100 mm : 0 = no pain , 100 = maximum pain ) , BASMI , BASFI , BASDAI , and on chest expansion and the active range of motion of the cervical and lumbar spine measured by a pocket goniometer . Results . The 3 groups were comparable at baseline . On intragroup comparison at T1 , the rehabilitation group showed significant improvement in the BASMI and BASDAI , in chest expansion , and in most spinal active range of motion measurements . BASFI and cervical and lumbar VAS scores improved in both the rehabilitation and educational-behavioral groups . The positive results achieved in the rehabilitation group were maintained at the 6-month followup . Conclusion . Combining intensive group exercise with an educational-behavioral program can provide promising results in the management of patients with clinical ly stabilized AS on TNF inhibitor treatment
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 ) .