Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 12-month's follow-up effects on pain, mobility, and
physical function outcomes of a supervised training and home-based rehabilitation
for ankylosing spondylitis patients stabilized with TNF-inhibitor therapy.
DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial (sequentially determined allocation) with
12-months' follow-up. SETTING: Patients' homes. SUBJECTS: A total of 69 subjects
were allocated to either a rehabilitation programme (rehabilitation group, n =
22), an educational-behavioural programme (educational group, n = 24), and to
neither programme (control group, n = 23). INTERVENTIONS: Rehabilitation
programme included supervised training and home exercises (stretching,
strengthening, aerobic, chest, and spine/hip joint flexibility exercises);
educational-behavioural programme included information on ankylosing spondylitis,
pain and stress mechanisms, and control. MAIN MEASURES: Spinal pain intensity,
Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis
Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, chest
expansion, and cervical and lumbar spine active range of motion measured by a
pocket goniometer. RESULTS: At baseline, the three groups exhibited comparable
demographic characteristics and basal evaluations. Intra-group changes in the
rehabilitation group from baseline to 12 months yielded statistically significant
gains (p < 0.05) for all outcomes. At 12-months follow-up, compared with the
control and educational-behavioural, the rehabilitation group exhibited
significant differences in chest expansion (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001), Bath
Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (p = 0.012 and p = 0.050), and in
some goniometric measurements as cervical rotation (p = 0.007 and p = 0.014),
toraco-lumbar rotation (p = 0.009 and p = 0.050), and total cervical movements (p
= 0.009 and p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In comparison with the
educational-behavioural programme or no intervention, supervised training and
home exercises improved long-term outcome in patients with ankylosing
spondylitis.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2013.

Langue : ANGLAIS