POS0424-HPR COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF CLINICAL PILATES-BASED EXERCISE TRAINING ADMINISTERED VIA TELEREHABILITATION AND FACE-TO-FACE IN PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: A PRELIMINARY RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: N. B. Karaca, G. İ. Kinikli, C. Boström, S. Buran, O. Tüfekçi, L. Kiliç, E. Ünal, Ş. A. Bilgen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Lifelong exercise, in conjunction with appropriate pharmacological treatment, is crucial in managing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Supervised exercise programs have proven more effective than home exercises for this patient group [1]. Online exercise programs, allowing remote supervision and modification by physiotherapists, offer an alternative to in-person interventions. While studies demonstrate the benefits of face-to-face clinical pilates exercises for axSpA patients [2,3], it remains necessary to explore its efficacy through telerehabilitation. <h3>Objectives:</h3> This study aimed to compare the effects of clinical pilates-based exercise training delivered via telerehabilitation and face-to-face in patients with axSpA. <h3>Methods:</h3> Twenty axSpA patients without regular exercise habits were randomly assigned to two groups: the face-to-face exercise group (FEG; n= 11) received clinical pilates-based exercise training in the clinic under physiotherapist supervision, and the telerehabilitation exercise group (TEG; n= 9) received the same training online in real-time through video conferencing. Both groups participated in thrice-weekly exercise sessions for 8 weeks. Demographic data were collected from all patients. Outcomes included the BATH indices, Ankylosing Spondylitis Performance Index (ASPI), BETY-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BETY-BQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society-Health Index (ASAS-HI), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life questionnaire (ASQOL). All measurements were taken at baseline and repeated after 8 weeks. <h3>Results:</h3> Demographic information and baseline values of outcome measures were similar in both groups (p&gt; 0.05) (Tables 1 and 2). While all measurements significantly improved in the FEG (p&lt; 0.05), improvements in the TEG, such as ASPI-putting on socks test (p= 0.173), HADS anxiety and depression scores (p= 0.084, p= 0.122), and ASAS-HI score (p= 0.108) were not significant (p&gt; 0.05). However, the differences between the groups were comparable (p&gt; 0.05) (Table 2). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Clinical pilates-based exercise training via a telerehabilitation platform for axSpA patients yields results comparable to face-to-face implementation in the clinic. Given the chronic nature of axSpA necessitating regular exercise, recommending online clinical pilates-based exercise programs should be taken into consideration for this population. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Liang, Hui, et al. "The comparative efficacy of supervised-versus home-based exercise programs in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a meta-analysis." Medicine 99.8 (2020): e19229. [2] Acar, Yasemin, et al. "The effects of clinical pilates training on disease-specific indices, core stability, and balance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 33 (2023): 69-75. [3] Oksuz, Sevim, and Edibe Unal. "Comparison of the effects of aerobic training alone versus aerobic training combined with clinical Pilates exercises on the functional and psychosocial status of patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trial." Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 39.1 (2023): 61-71. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>