title: Investigating the effects of a multidimensional exercise program on symptoms and antiinflammatory status in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a multidimensional exercise program on symptoms and antiinflammatory status in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The BATH Indexes, Dougados Functional Index (DFI), Health Assessment Questionnaire in Spondyloarthopathies (HAQ-S), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to evaluate twenty-four female AS patients. ESR, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were also analyzed. All patients were assessed at baseline and with 3 weeks intervals till 12 week. A multidimensional exercise program was applied for three times a week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Index (BAS-G) and Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), HAQ-S, ASQoL and BDI scores (p < 0.05). The level of the ESR, CRP and IL-6 fluctuated slightly. There was only significant difference at 3 and 12 weeks as compared to baseline levels in TNF-α values (p = 0.048, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that multidimensional exercise program should be taken into consideration for AS patients due to its positive effects on symptoms and antiinflammatory effects.
authors: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Science, Physiotehrapy and Rehabilitation Department, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: pinar_dizmek@hotmail.com.
authors: Pinar
authors: P
authors: Kisacik
authors: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Science, Physiotehrapy and Rehabilitation Department, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: eyakut@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Edibe
authors: E
authors: Unal
authors: Hacettepe University Hospitals, Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Unit, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: uakman@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Umit
authors: U
authors: Akman
authors: Mevlana University, Physiotehrapy and Rehabilitation Department, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: gyapali@yahoo.com.
authors: Gokmen
authors: G
authors: Yapali
authors: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ekarabul@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Erdem
authors: E
authors: Karabulut
authors: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: aakdogan@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Akdogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; Cytokine; Exercise; Inflammation; Multidimensional exercise program