Effects of two exercise interventions on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Dilek Durmu?, Gamze Alayl?, O?uz Uzun, Berna Tander, Ferhan Cantürk, Yüksel Bek and Levent Erkan

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two different home-based daily exercise programs on pulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).  Fifty-one patients with AS were distributed into three groups. Conventional exercise regimen, exercises based on the Global Posture Reeducation (GPR) method and the control group.   Although there were significant improvements for BASDAI and BASFI scores in all groups, significant improvements in the VAS pain, chest expansion, pulmonary function parameters and 6MWD test were observed in the exercise groups. The improvements in pain, functional capacity, disease activity, chest expansion, pulmonary function parameters and 6MWD test were better in the exercise groups than in the control group. The GPR method resulted in greater improvements than the conventional exercise program in specific pulmonary function parameters like forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and peak expiratory flow parameters.

Both conventional exercises and exercises based on the Global Posture Reeducation are efficient in improving pulmonary functions. Since the improvements in pulmonary function tests were greater in the patients who performed the exercise according to GPR method, motivated patients should be encouraged to perform this exercise program.

Joint Bone Spine, 2009, 76(2), 150-155

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