[Interdisciplinary rehabilitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

INTRODUCTION: Complex pulmonary assessment related to respiratory manifestation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis may contribute to adaptation of an appropriate rehabilitation program.

AIM: To examine the relationship between lung function, exercise physiological variables and change in quality of life after rehabilitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

METHOD: 5 patients in Seyfried's Stage 2 and 11 patients in Stage 3 underwent spinal physiotherapy, ultrasound, massage and paraffin Pack, 15 times each, followed by a high-intensity cycling 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Indexes were recorded before and after rehabilitation. Lung function with exercise physiological variables were examined after rehabilitation.

RESULTS: Both indexes showed a post-treatment significant improvement compared to the initial scores (p<0.05). These functional indices correlated with lung function at rest and physiological variables during exercise (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, it is possible that an initial pulmonary assessment may serve to develop a more effective program for ankylosing spondylitis. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(28), 1126-1132.