Most studies showed a positive effect of exercise on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index , pain , mobility , function and quality of life .
Results support a multimodal approach , including educational sessions and maintaining home-based program .
Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic and inflammatory rheumatic disease , characterized by pain and structural and functional impairments , such as reduced mobility and axial deformity , which lead to diminished quality of life .
Its treatment includes not only drugs , but also nonpharmacological therapy .
Exercise appears to be a promising modality .
The aim of this study is to review the current evidence and evaluate the role of exercise either on l and or in water for the management of patients with AS in the biological era .
The effects of balneotherapy on disease activity, functional status, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE This study aim ed to determine the effects of balneotherapy on disease activity , functional status , metrology index , pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . MATERIAL S AND METHODS The study included 28 patients ( 27 male and 1 female ) diagnosed with AS according to modified New York criteria . The patients were treated with balneotherapy for 3 weeks ( 30 min/day , 5 days/week ) . The patients were evaluated using the global index , Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index ( BASDAI ) , disease functional index ( BASFI ) , metrology index ( BASMI ) , chest expansion measures , pulmonary function testing , and the medical outcomes study -short form-36 Health Survey ( SF-36 ) ( measure of quality of life ) before balneotherapy and 1 month after treatment . RESULTS Post balneotherapy  BASDAI and global index decreased , BASMI parameters improved , chest expansion increased , and some SF-36 parameters improved ; however , none of these changes were statistically significant ( P > 0.05 ) , except for the decrease in BASMI total score ( P < 0.05 ) . Before balneotherapy 6 patients had restrictive pulmonary disorder , according to pulmonary function test results . Pulmonary function test results in 3 ( 50 % ) patients were normalized following balneotherapy ; however , as for the other index , balneotherapy did not significantly affect pulmonary function test results . CONCLUSION The AS patients ' symptoms , clinical findings , pulmonary function test results , and quality of life showed a trend to improve following balneotherapy , although without reaching significant differences . Comprehensive r and omized controlled spa intervention studies with longer follow-up periods may be helpful in further delineating the therapeutic efficacy of balneotherapy in AS patients
Most studies showed a positive effect of exercise on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index , pain , mobility , function and quality of life .
Results support a multimodal approach , including educational sessions and maintaining home-based program .
Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic and inflammatory rheumatic disease , characterized by pain and structural and functional impairments , such as reduced mobility and axial deformity , which lead to diminished quality of life .
Its treatment includes not only drugs , but also nonpharmacological therapy .
Exercise appears to be a promising modality .
The aim of this study is to review the current evidence and evaluate the role of exercise either on l and or in water for the management of patients with AS in the biological era .