Rehab May Improve Function in AS - Summary - MDSpire
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Rehab May Improve Function in AS
Supervised rehabilitation and exercise-based therapies may improve function, pain, and bone health in ankylosing spondylitis, according to a new review.
To evaluate the effects of multimodal rehabilitation strategies on function, bone health, and orthopedic complications in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Key Findings:
Patients with AS have significantly increased risks of fractures.
Rehabilitation may help preserve function and improve bone health.
Exercise programs generally showed moderate improvements in disease activity, physical function, and spinal mobility.
Supervised rehabilitation provided greater benefits than unsupervised home exercise.
Aquatic therapy was particularly beneficial for patients with pain limiting land-based exercise.
Exercise interventions improved BMD, especially at the hip and femoral neck.
Rehabilitation in AS extends beyond symptom control, emphasizing the importance of preserving spinal mobility to prevent structural progression and its long-term implications.
Limitations:
Evidence quality varied across studies, with some showing little or no clinically meaningful effect compared to usual care.
Current rehabilitation protocols may not significantly modify underlying mechanisms of spinal fusion, as evidenced by variability in study outcomes.
Conclusion:
Multimodal rehabilitation strategies may improve function and bone health in AS patients, but further research is needed to understand their impact on structural changes and to refine protocols.
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