title: Behaviour change intervention increases physical activity, spinal mobility and quality of life in adults with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomised trial.
abstract: Does a 3-month behaviour change intervention targeting physical activity (PA) increase habitual physical activity in adults with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)? Does the intervention improve health-related physical fitness, AS-related features, and attitude to exercise? Are any gains maintained over a 3-month follow-up?
  
  
  
  Parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis.
  
  
  
  Forty adults with a diagnosis of AS, on stable medication, and without PA-limiting comorbidities.
  
  
  
  Over a 3-month period, the experimental group engaged in individually-tailored, semi-structured consultations aiming to motivate and support individuals in participating in PA. The control group continued with usual care.
  
  
  
  The primary outcome was PA measured by accelerometry over 1 week. Secondary outcomes included clinical questionnaires and measures of health-related physical fitness. Measures were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and after a 3-month follow-up period.
  
  
  
  Baseline characteristics were similar across groups, except age and body composition. There were statistically significant, moderate-to-large time-by-group effects in health-enhancing PA (mixed-design ANOVA for overall effect F(2, 76)=14.826, p<0.001), spinal mobility (F(2, 76)=5.691, p<0.005) and quality of life (χ2(2)=8.400, p<0.015) favouring the intervention group; post-intervention improvements were sustained 3 months later. No significant effects were seen in other physical fitness outcomes or on clinical questionnaires. No adverse effects were reported during the study.
  
  
  
  Health-enhancing PA, spinal mobility and quality of life were significantly improved after the intervention, and improvements were maintained at 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  NCT02374502. [O'Dwyer T, Monaghan A, Moran J, O'Shea F, Wilson F (2016) Behaviour change intervention increases physical activity, spinal mobility and quality of life in adults with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomised trial.Journal of PhysiotherapyXX: XX-XX].
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monaghan
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Finbar
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; Exercise; Motor activity; Physical fitness; Quality of life