Importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Structural Heart Changes Secondary to Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may present with cardiac manifestations, mainly valvular disease and dilation of the aortic root. Rehabilitation programs to improve cardiovascular capacity are important for maintaining the quality of life of these patients, which often deteriorates with disease impairments and dysfunctions when not corrected. We report a case of a 67-year-old man, diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis 20 years ago with structural cardiac changes. The patient underwent a rehabilitation program that involves stretching, aerobic and resistance exercises, and health education. In order to analyze the patient’s effort during activities of daily living and instrumental activities, we used Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. With constant rehabilitation, the patient maintained functional capacity in activities of daily living and instrumental activities over the years even with structural heart changes.