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 ) .
The effectiveness of intensive group exercise on patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Objective : To compare , in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) , the effectiveness on pain , functional and psychological status of an intensive group exercise programme under the supervision of a physiotherapist and a home physiotherapy programme . Design : Fifty-one patients with AS were r and omly allocated into study and control groups . The study was design ed as a prospect i ve , double-blind study . Setting : Outpatient department , Istanbul Medical Faculty . Subjects : Patients who consulted with complaints of pain , morning stiffness and restricted range of movement with a confirmed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis . Interventions : Before exercise , both groups were given an education programme about AS . For group I patients an intensive exercise programme was organized under the supervision of a physiotherapist for six weeks . Group II patients had to practise exercises individually at home . Main outcome measures : Both groups were evaluated and compared for pain , functional and psychological status before treatment , at the end of treatment and three months after treatment using a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) for pain , Beck Depression Scale and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) . Results : Six patients withdrew , four from group I. Results from the remaining 45 showed more positive changes in the patients undertaking group exercise at six weeks and three months after treatment . Values showed a statistical significant difference in favour of group I. Conclusion : Group exercise in hospital may be more effective than home-based exercises at reducing impairment associated with ankylosing spondylitis
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 ) .