title: Effects of two exercise interventions on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two different home-based daily exercise programs on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients with AS were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (n=19) was given a conventional exercise regimen. Group 2 (n=19) received exercises based on the Global Posture Reeducation (GPR) method. Group 3 (n=13) was accepted as the control group. Patients were assessed according to pain, functional capacity (The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index - BASFI), disease activity (The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index - BASDAI), chest expansion, pulmonary function parameters, and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there were significant improvements for BASDAI and BASFI scores in all groups, significant improvements in the VAS pain, chest expansion, pulmonary function parameters and 6MWD test were observed in the exercise groups. The improvements in pain, functional capacity, disease activity, chest expansion, pulmonary function parameters and 6MWD test were better in the exercise groups than in the control group. The GPR method resulted in greater improvements than the conventional exercise program in specific pulmonary function parameters like forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1s, and peak expiratory flow parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both exercises are efficient in improving pulmonary functions. Since the improvements in pulmonary function tests were greater in the patients who performed the exercise according to GPR method, motivated patients should be encouraged to perform this exercise program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durmuş
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alayli
authors.forename: Oğuz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tander
authors.forename: Ferhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantürk
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bek
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erkan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011187:Posture; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome