Clinical trial NCT03667625: Stretching in Water and on Land for Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Official title: The Effect of Stretching Exercises in Water and on Land on Spinal Mobility and Functional Level in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Ankylosing Spondylitis
Keywords: aquatherapy
stretching exercises
Lead sponsor: Dokuz Eylul University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-09-12
Enrollment: 57
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness stretching exercises in ankylosing spondylitis.

Detailed description: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, progressive disease with an unknown etiology which characterize with inflammation that leads to bone fusion in spinal joints. Besides the systemic manifestations, chronic pain acquired kyphosis, diminished exercise capacity may cause pulmonary dysfunction, muscle imbalance, reduced quality of life, sleep disruptions and depression. There are strong evidence and advice on exercise should start with diagnosis. Although stretching exercises are the most common exercises in this group the literature on the effectiveness of stretching exercises is scarce. The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness stretching exercises in ankylosing spondylitis.

The study was carried on patients with ankylosing spondylitis followed by Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine. 57 patients were assessed and randomized into two group control and intervention. Control group informed on the importance of exercise and given a home exercise brochure. The intervention group was also randomized into an aquatic and land stretching group and received stretching exercises two days a week for eight weeks. Two patients from the control group and nine patients (three from aquatic, six from land) from the intervention group were excluded.

At the end of eight weeks, except FEV1, FVC, VC all results of the intervention group improved whereas an quality of health was the only result improved in the control group. When aquatic and land stretching groups the results were improved similarly. The improvements of BASFI and MIP of the aquatic group are superior to the land group.

Home exercises are playing an important role in the management of ankylosing spondylitis. Addition of stretching exercises to home exercises enhances the effectiveness of the treatment. Aquatic stretching exercises have some benefits than land stretching exercises.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* AS diagnosed according to 1988 Modified New York criteria volunteered with a BASDAI score of 3 or 4

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients followed any physical exercise within the last 3 months prior to this study, history of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease were excluded.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Vital capacity
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in respiratory muscle strength
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in FVC
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in FEV1/FVC
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in PEF
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in MVV
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in functionality
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in disease activity
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in spinal mobility
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in muscle strength
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in sleep quality
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
measure: Change in depression
timeFrame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Izmir
country: Turkey
facility: Dokuz Eylul University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Study officials:
affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University
name: Baris GURPINAR, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University
name: Nursen ILCIN, PhD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University
name: Sema SAVCI, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
name: Nurullah AKKOC
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Gurpinar B, Ilcin N, Savci S, Akkoc N. Do mobility exercises in different environments have different effects in ankylosing spondylitis? Acta Reumatol Port. 2021 Oct-Dec;46(4):297-316.