title: Does exercise affect the antioxidant system in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
abstract: We aimed to investigate the effect of regular supervised exercise program on functional status, disease activity, and total antioxidant status (TAS) level in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thirty-two patients (mean age: 44 years) with AS were included in the study and divided into two groups. Group 1, the exercise group (n = 16), attended a supervised exercise program that consisted of aerobic, strengthening, and stretching exercises for 1 h a day, five times a week for 3 weeks. Group 2, the control group, received a home exercise program (n:16). Bath AS Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) were calculated and serum TAS levels were measured for each patient at 0 and 3 weeks. There was no significant difference in patients' baseline characteristics (age, disease duration, BASFI, and BASDAI scores) between exercise and control groups. In the exercise group, there were significant improvements between pre-exercise and post-exercise assessments in BASFI (2.8 +/- 1,8; 1.7 +/- 1,40, p = 0.004) and BASDAI scores (2.1 +/- 1.7; 1.2 +/- 1.3, p = 0.01). Mean TAS levels were significantly decreased after supervised exercise program (1.48 +/- 0.16 mmol/L; 1.36 +/- 0.20 mmol/L, p = 0.03). In the control group, BASFI score (2.4 +/- 1.7; 2.9 +/- 2.1, p = 0.19), BASDAI score (2.6 +/- 2.2; 3.1 +/- 2.6, p = 0.33), and mean TAS levels (1.38 +/- 0.23 mmol/L; 1.39 +/- 0.20 mmol/L, p = 0.66) did not differ significantly between 0 and 3 weeks. Short-term, supervised exercise program improved functional status and decreased disease activity. However, the mechanism of this beneficial clinical effect does not seem to be through antioxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey. zafergunendi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Günendi
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepici Dinçel
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aknar
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanpal
authors.forename: Feride
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Göğüş
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atalay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants