Effect of Therapeutic Exercises Intervention on the Functional Status for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Background: Regular exercises are of importance in the successful long-term management of Ankylosing Spondylitis. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a specific exercise program on spinal and joints stiffness for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Subjects and Method: Design: Quasi experimental research design . Setting: Rheumatology and rehabilitation department in Tanta University Hospital. Subjects: Sampling of 60 adult patients who are suffering from ankylosing spondylitis. They were divided randomly into two equal groups; each group consisted of (30) patients as following: Group (1): Study group, it was consisted of (30) patients and they are exposed to the therapeutic exercise. Group (2): Control group, it was consisted of (30) patients and they are exposed to the routine hospital care. Tools: tool (1): Structured Interview Schedule, tool (2): Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, tool (3): Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and tool (4): Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS ). Results: the results revealed that there were statistically improvement in patients knowledge before and after two months with mean± SD (19.60 ± 3.37) and (59.40 ± 2.55) respectively. Also, there were statistically significant improvement concerning to bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index before and after two month with mean ( 80.93 ± 2.35 and 13.63 ± 1.40) respectively, there were statistically significant improvement concerning to bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index before and after two months (8.15 ± 0.30 ,1.34 ± 0.20) respectively .Concerning to Numeric Pain Rating Scale there were statistically significant improvement before and after two months in study group. Conclusion: The specific exercise program has a valuable effect on patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis on their physical function, and stiffness (mobility of the axial skeleton). Recommendations: Applying the specific exercise program on the patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis at different rehabilitation units to decrease the spinal and joint stiffness.