Stretching in Water and on Land for Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Dokuz Eylül University (DEU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ankylosing Spondylitis

Treatments: Other: Multidimensional Mobility Exercises; Other: Control group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03667625

DorkuzEU

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Full 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.

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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57 participants in 3 patient groups

Aquatic group

Experimental group

Description:

Aquatic multidimensional mobility exercises were given in the treatment pool at Balcova Thermal Centre, Izmir, Turkey. Group of 6-7 patients was instructed by a specialized physiotherapist twice in a week for eight weeks. The water temperature was 33-340C and the depth was between 110-140 cm, patients were asked to keep T11 level submersion during vertical exercises. Exercise span was kept 30-40 min in first 4 weeks then increased to 45-50 min with additional exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Multidimensional Mobility Exercises

Land group

Experimental group

Description:

Multidimensional mobility exercises were given at exercise unit of Dokuz Eylul University School of Physical Therapy, Izmir, Turkey. Group of 6-7 patients were instructed by a specialized physiotherapist twice in a week for eight weeks. The room temperature was 23-240C. Exercise span was kept 30-40 min in first 4 weeks then increased to 45-50 min with additional exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Multidimensional Mobility Exercises

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

A conventional home exercise programme was given by a specialized physiotherapist to control group. Patients were checked and encouraged to continue their programs by weekly phone calls for eight weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Control group