Effects of a 6-month exercise programme on disease activity, physical and functional parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Randomised controlled trial.
Kim Nolte, Dina C Janse van Rensburg, Lizelle Fletcher
PMID 34230900WHAT IT FOUND
A 6-month swimming and land-based exercise programme improved spinal mobility, function, disease activity and aerobic capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Blood markers of inflammation did not change, and the programme did not worsen disease activity.
Key findings
01The exercise group showed significant improvements in functional scores (BASFI, BASDAI) and spinal mobility (BASMI) compared to the control group after 6 months.
02Aerobic capacity (VO2max and physical work capacity) and chest wall expansion improved significantly in the exercise group, while the control group deteriorated in these areas.
03Inflammatory blood markers (ESR and CRP) did not change significantly in either group, indicating the exercise did not exacerbate disease activity but also did not statistically reduce systemic inflammation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Small sample size with high drop-out rate (9 of 29 participants did not complete the study). Participants and assessors were not blinded to group allocation. The same biokineticist conducted both the assessments and the intervention, introducing potential bias. Allocation was not concealed. Only completers were analysed, which may overestimate the effect if drop-outs differed from those who stayed.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of change in blood inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) as the exercise being ineffective for disease management. The study found significant improvements in patient-reported function, spinal mobility and physical capacity, which are key clinical outcomes, even if systemic inflammation markers remained stable.