title: Effects of Aerobic Training in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients classified with AS by the modified New York criteria were included. The patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The intervention group (IG) performed 50 min of walking followed by stretching exercises 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The control group (CG) performed only stretching exercises. The outcome measurements were the Bath indexes [Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI)], Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), chest expansion, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Aerobic capacity was assessed by ergospirometry on a treadmill. Routine laboratory techniques were used in determining lipid levels. Assessments were performed immediately before randomization and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were randomized to the IG and 35 to the CG. There was significant improvement in the BASFI, HAQ-S, BASMI, BASDAI, and ASDAS in both groups (p < 0.05), but did not differ between groups. There was a significant increase in the walking distance in the 6MWT in the IG compared with CG (p < 0.001). The IG showed significant improvement in cardiopulmonary capacity compared with CG. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not change in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with AS, aerobic training improved walking distance and aerobic capacity. Aerobic training did not provide additional benefits in functional capacity, mobility, disease activity, quality of life, and lipid levels when compared with stretching exercises alone.
authors.affiliation: From the Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.F. Jennings, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; H.A. Oliveira, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; M.C. Souza, PT, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; V.G. Cruz, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; J. Natour, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: From the Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.F. Jennings, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; H.A. Oliveira, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; M.C. Souza, PT, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; V.G. Cruz, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; J. Natour, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.
authors.forename: Hilda Alcântara
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: From the Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.F. Jennings, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; H.A. Oliveira, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; M.C. Souza, PT, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; V.G. Cruz, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; J. Natour, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.
authors.forename: Marcelo Cardoso
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: From the Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.F. Jennings, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; H.A. Oliveira, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; M.C. Souza, PT, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; V.G. Cruz, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; J. Natour, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.
authors.forename: Vaneska da Graça
authors.initials: Vda G
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: From the Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.F. Jennings, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; H.A. Oliveira, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; M.C. Souza, PT, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; V.G. Cruz, PT, MsC, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; J. Natour, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. jnatour@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Jamil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Natour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: AEROBIC CAPACITY; AEROBIC EXERCISE; ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY; PAIN; QUALITY OF LIFE