Effect of Therapeutic Exercises Intervention on the Functional Status for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Mady, Manar A.; Shabaan, Zeinab M.; Elsergany, Mervat A.; Abdelhay, Seham A.

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2023.307380

Effect of Therapeutic Exercises Intervention on the Functional Status for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Training Coordinator in Elsanta Hospital

² Lecturer, Critical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt

³ Prof of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

⁴ Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt

10.21608/tsnj.2023.307380

Abstract

Background: Regular exercises are of importance in the successful long-term management of
Ankylosing Spondylitis. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a specific exercise
program on spinal and joints stiffness for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Subjects and
Method: Design: Quasi experimental research design. Setting: Rheumatology and
rehabilitation department in Tanta University Hospital. Subjects: Sampling of 60 adult
patients who are suffering from ankylosing spondylitis. They were divided randomly into two
equal groups; each group consisted of (30) patients as following: Group (1): Study group, it
was consisted of (30) patients and they are exposed to the therapeutic exercise. Group (2):
Control group, it was consisted of (30) patients and they are exposed to the routine hospital
care. Tools: tool (1): Structured Interview Schedule, tool (2): Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis
Functional Index, tool (3): Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and tool (4):
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: the results revealed that there were statistically
improvement in patients knowledge before and after two months with mean± SD (19.60 ±
3.37) and (59.40 ± 2.55) respectively. Also, there were statistically significant improvement
concerning to bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index before and after two month with
mean ( 80.93 ± 2.35 and 13.63 ± 1.40) respectively, there were statistically significant
improvement concerning to bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index before and
after two months (8.15 ± 0.30 ,1.34 ± 0.20) respectively .Concerning to Numeric Pain Rating
Scale there were statistically significant improvement before and after two months in study
group. Conclusion: The specific exercise program has a valuable effect on patients with
Ankylosing Spondylitis on their physical function, and stiffness (mobility of the axial
skeleton). Recommendations: Applying the specific exercise program on the patients with
Ankylosing Spondylitis at different rehabilitation units to decrease the spinal and joint
stiffness