There was no important clinical meaningful benefit .
Adverse effectsWe found very low- quality evidence of the effect of exercise versus either no intervention , or usual care .
We found moderate- to low- quality evidence that exercise programmes probably slightly improve function , may reduce pain , and probably slightly reduce global patient assessment of disease activity , when compared with no intervention , and measured upon completion of the programme .
We found moderate- to low- quality evidence that exercise programmes probably have little or no effect on improving function or reducing pain , when compared with usual care , and may have little or no effect on reducing patient assessment of disease activity , when measured upon completion of the programmes .
We are uncertain whether exercise programmes improve spinal mobility , reduce fatigue , or induce adverse effects
BACKGROUND Exercise programmes are often recommended for managing ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) , to reduce pain and improve or maintain functional capacity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of exercise programmes for people with AS .
Self- and manual mobilization improves spine mobility in men with ankylosing spondylitis — a randomized study
Aims : To evaluate effects of physiotherapeutic intervention in terms of self- and manual mobilization on chest expansion , vital capacity , posture , spine mobility and experienced consequences of the disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis . Design : A prospect i ve , r and omized controlled study . Methods : Thirty-two men , aged between 23 and 60 years , with ankylosing spondylitis were r and omized to active or no treatment for eight weeks . Physiotherapeutic intervention included individualized self- and manual mobilization for 1 hour twice a week and individually adjusted home exercises . Two blinded investigators made the assessment s of chest expansion , posture and spinal mobility before and after the treatment period . The patient filled in three and the physiotherapist one of the four Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis scales ( BAS scales ) . Results : In the treatment group chest expansion increased at the level of processus xiphoideus ( P<0.01 ) , with no difference in vital capacity compared with the control group . The posture improved in the cervical ( C7—wall distance ) ( P<0.001 ) and in the thoracic spine ( P<0.05 ) . Thoracic and lumbar spine flexion improved ( P<0.01 ) as did sagittal range of motion P<0.001 and P<0.01 , respectively . The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index total scoring improved ( P<0.001 ) in the treatment group compared with the control group . The other three BAS scales showed no differences between groups . At four months follow-up of the treatment group , cervical spine posture , lumbar flexion and range of motion as well as BAS Metrology Index were still improved . Conclusion : This study shows that eight weeks of self- and manual mobilization treatment improved chest expansion , posture and spine mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
There was no important clinical meaningful benefit .
Adverse effectsWe found very low- quality evidence of the effect of exercise versus either no intervention , or usual care .
We found moderate- to low- quality evidence that exercise programmes probably slightly improve function , may reduce pain , and probably slightly reduce global patient assessment of disease activity , when compared with no intervention , and measured upon completion of the programme .
We found moderate- to low- quality evidence that exercise programmes probably have little or no effect on improving function or reducing pain , when compared with usual care , and may have little or no effect on reducing patient assessment of disease activity , when measured upon completion of the programmes .
We are uncertain whether exercise programmes improve spinal mobility , reduce fatigue , or induce adverse effects
BACKGROUND Exercise programmes are often recommended for managing ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) , to reduce pain and improve or maintain functional capacity .
OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of exercise programmes for people with AS .