section name header

Evidence summaries

Exercise Programmes for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Exercise programmes may slightly improve function, reduce pain, and slightly reduce patient assessment of ankylosing spondylitis disease activity compared to no intervention. Level of evidence: "C"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and lack of blinding), and by inconsistency (variability in results).

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 14 studies with a total of 1 579 subjects with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Exercise therapy programmes were compared with an inactive control (waiting list, advice, no exercise) in 9 studies and with usual care in 5 studies (participants could practice exercises as usual). Most exercise programmes were delivered in conjunction with drug therapy (standard NSAIDs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or biological agents).

Abstract in McMaster database (licence required)

Abstract and full text in Cochrane database http://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011321.pub2/full (licence for full text required)

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search:

References

  • Regnaux JP, Davergne T, Palazzo C et al. Exercise programmes for ankylosing spondylitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;(10):CD011321. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords