Effects of two exercise interventions on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
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.
Durmuş
Dilek
D
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey.
Alayli
Gamze
G
Uzun
Oğuz
O
Tander
Berna
B
Cantürk
Ferhan
F
Bek
Yüksel
Y
Erkan
Levent
L
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