How to exercise with ankylosing spondylitis

Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
Updated on September 25, 2024
00:00
00:00

In the early stages of ankylosing spondylitis, when the impact on the sacral and other joints is minimal, normal activities such as swimming and jogging are acceptable. However, in the later stages of ankylosing spondylitis, as the disease progressively affects the sacral, hip, and knee joints, it becomes necessary to adjust the exercise regimen, mainly focusing on walking. It is important to avoid localized exposure to the cold and to take oral medications that nourish the joint cartilage. Daily local heat therapy for the joints or appropriate acupuncture can also help to some extent in delaying the erosion and damage of the joints by ankylosing spondylitis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 4sec home-news-image

Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

The main symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is pain, characterized by pain in the lower back and lumbar region. The pain occurs during rest and diminishes with activity; it is especially severe at night, often waking the sufferer, who then finds mild activity alleviates the pain enough to return to sleep. As the disease progresses, chest pain and restricted rib cage movement begin, due to the disease spreading to the thoracic vertebrae and eventually reaching the cervical vertebrae in later stages, resulting in difficulty moving the neck. Early physical signs include tenderness in the sacroiliac joints and paraspinal muscles. X-rays can reveal that the sacroiliac joints are often the first to be affected, usually showing sacroiliitis. Additionally, there is a particularly high positivity rate for HLA-B27, the human leukocyte antigen B27, which can reach up to 90%, whereas it is typically around 4%-9% in the general population.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
53sec home-news-image

Can people with ankylosing spondylitis work out?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease that cannot be cured. It can only be managed with medication to control the condition, delay the onset of joint deformities, and reduce the rate of disability. Lifestyle changes are also a part of the treatment, including quitting smoking and drinking, and avoiding carbonated beverages as they can exacerbate bone loss. Additionally, regular exercise is important, with swimming being the best option. Swimming not only exercises the limbs and improves muscle coordination but also reduces joint wear and tear, making it the ideal form of exercise. For patients who cannot swim, other forms of exercise such as walking or running are also beneficial for fitness.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 34sec home-news-image

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), where "A" stands for fusion and "S" for spine, refers to the condition where the bones and joints of the spine are fused together. Ankylosing Spondylitis is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton and major limb joints. It is characterized by fibrosis and ossification of the intervertebral discs’ annulus fibrosus and nearby connective tissues, as well as ankylosis (stiffening) of the joints. It presents as a sterile inflammation occurring in the spine. However, it is not solely limited to the spine as it also involves the axial bones and major limb joints. The pathological hallmark of the disease includes inflammation mainly at the sacroiliac joints and points of attachment to the spine, leading to joint stiffness and calcification of the spinal ligaments and joints. The disease progression begins at the sacroiliac joint, spreading upwards through the entirety of the spine, and eventually stops at the cervical vertebrae. Symptoms start with pain in the early stages, followed by restricted mobility in the intermediate phase, and ultimately leading to deformities of the abdomen and back, culminating in severe hunchback. The exact cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis remains unclear, with various theories proposed but none universally accepted. Additionally, it is categorized under rheumatologic and immunologic disorders.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
55sec home-news-image

What to check for ankylosing spondylitis?

The examination for ankylosing spondylitis mainly includes blood tests. The main components of the blood tests are erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ANA along with CCP antibodies, and AKA antibodies, and of course, the most crucial test related to the gene - HLA-B27. Imaging exams can include the following: First, an X-ray of the pelvis, or an MRI of the sacroiliac joints. If the disease has been present for a longer time, a CT of the sacroiliac joints can be chosen. If the patient has elevated ESR and CRP, a positive B27, and lesions in the sacroiliac joints, then the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can be confirmed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Is ankylosing spondylitis serious?

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis, if treated actively in the early stages, the condition is not severe. However, if the patient continues to seek irregular and improper medical care, it is possible to develop severe complications such as kyphosis and spinal ankylosis. In severe cases, patients may even self-harm. Therefore, it is advised that patients with ankylosing spondylitis seek treatment early, before the onset of spinal ankylosis. The treatment plan mainly includes non-steroidal analgesics, such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, medications to control the condition, such as sulfasalazine tablets, and biologic treatments. With the above treatments, the condition of ankylosing spondylitis can be controlled. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)