Exercise Guideline for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Exercise is an essential element of management for ankylosing spondylitis, of which symptoms and disease activity can be controlled by disease-modifying agents and monitored and followed up. However, due to a lack of support of the healthcare system, rehabilitation, and exercise management are not actively provided to patients with ankylosing spondylitis in clinical settings, and any qualified educational materials for exercise are not available. We aimed to develop the Korean exercise guideline to be used for patient with ankylosing spondylitis. The guideline has been developed through adapting existing evidence-based guidelines and making consensus by experts from the Korean Association of Sports Science and Exercise Medicine and the Korean College of Rheumatology. A draft recommendation was prepared through four expert meetings. The survey was conducted using the modified Delphi technique by expanding the experts for both academic societies. For questions that did not meet the consensus criteria, the survey was conducted again, and the recommendations that reached consensus were adopted. As a result, we suggested Korean exercise recommendations for ankylosing spondylitis including evaluation and monitoring of ankylosing spondylitis patients, safety management, disease management, ankylosing spondylitis specific exercises, considerations in advanced ankylosing spondylitis, dosage and adherence, and exercise setting. Based on the guideline, exercise education materials were produced. From this guideline, patients can receive professional guidance for self-management, and healthcare professionals can take advantage of prescribing specific exercise programs safely and effectively.