The influence of non-supervised home exercises on the functional condition of the patients with ankylosing spondylitis – preliminary research

Background. Complex treatment of ankylosing spondylitis should combine pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods. The aim of the research was to estimate the influence of non-supervised home exercises on functional condition of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Additionally, the assessment of the influence of home exercises on the efficiency of inpatient rehabilitation was performed.

Material and methods. The study involved 52 patients (12 women, 40 men) approximately at the age of 44.1 with ankylosing spondylitis. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (34 patients) exercising at home, group B (18 patients) not exercising at home. The assessment of functional condition of patients in both groups was performed twice using the BASFI questionnaire at the beginning of the rehabilitation and 3 weeks after the treatment.

Results. A comparative value of the BASFI index was found for both groups at the beginning of the rehabilitation, it was determined as BASFI I. After 3 weeks of rehabilitative treatment a statistically significant improvement was observed (index BASFI II) in all patients, as well as in group A and B separately. Improvement of functional condition was almost the same in both groups.

Conclusion. The analysis of the collected research material proved that there was no influence of non-supervised home exercises on the functional condition of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The functional condition of the patients after 3 weeks of rehabilitation improved significantly. The study did not demonstrate any influence of home exercises on the increase of effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation.

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