The impact of physical activity on the functional status of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) – A literature review

Abstract

Introduction. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of the most common rheumatoid diseases. In the course of this disease, the musculoskeletal system is mainly involved. The treatment process should take into an account the patient’s current general condition, disease progression and function. Aim of the study. The purpose of this study was to attempt to assess the effect of physical activity on the functional status of patients with ankylosing spondylitis based on the available literature. Material and methods. The available literature was analyzed based on English-language databases PubMed, ScienceDirect and others, using the Google Scholar search engine. Seventeen articles were analyzed out of 55 retrieved by the above method. Publications published up to 10/10/2023 were used as search criteria using the following keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, physical activity, physiotherapy. Results. For the most part, physical activity performed by patients with AS appears to be effective in improving their function. Additional studies are needed to determine more clearly the effect of unguided exercise on this group of patients. Conclusions. Contemporary studies indicate that patient-performed physical activity mostly appears to be effective in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. The results of studies on the effectiveness of the use of unguided exercise by patients are divergent. They indicate both high and low effectiveness depending on the study conducted. Further research in this area is needed to draw more firm conclusions.