Effects of an exercise and relaxation aquatic program in patients with spondyloarthritis: A randomized trial

The effect of a six-week Aqua Pilates and Aqua Stretch intervention on pain, function, and quality of life in patients affected by ankylosing spondylitis: A rater-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

There has been a dearth of research into the benefits of water-based workouts for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the effect of Aqua Stretch and Aqua Pilates in improving quality of life (QOL), function, and pain in AS patients.

METHODS

This study was conducted on 40 patients, who were randomly assigned to the Aqua Pilates, Aqua Stretch, and control groups. The experimental groups attended interventions for six-week. QOL, pain intensity, function, and fatigue were measured before and after treatments.

RESULTS

Except for the chest expanding, all variables in the Aqua Stretch group changed significantly after six weeks (p< 0.05). QOL (p= 0.002), 6MWT (p= 0.016), and Schober flexion (p= 0.011) showed changes, while BASDAI (p= 0.0001), VAS (p= 0.0001), fatigue (p= 0.0001), and Schober extension (p= 0.028) showed significant decreases. Except for chest expansion and Schober extension, which did not alter significantly after six-week of Aqua Pilates (p> 0.05), all other variables did. There was an increasing trend in 6MWT and Schober flexion (p= 0.021) and a decreasing trend in BASDAI (p= 0.002), VAS (p= 0.0001) and fatigue (p= 0.002). Except for QOL (p= 0.016), no statistically significant differences were found between the groups.

CONCLUSION

All variables had a significant change after six-week Aqua Stretch, except for the chest expanding. Chest expanding and Schober extension were the variables which had no significant change after six-week Aqua Pilates. With the exception of QOL, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups. Aqua Stretch had the greatest effect on the VAS, as measured by the minimum clinically relevant differences (MCID). Moreover, in Aqua Stretch alone, there was a notable impact on fatigue, QOL, and the BASDAI.

The effectiveness of hippotherapy simulation exercises for muscle strength, disease activity and quality of life in sedentary adults with ankylosing spondylitis

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

Newly created systems called hippotherapy simulators (HS) mimic the primitive movements of a live horse. As they are new systems, research examining their usefulness has been well received. The aim of this study is to research the effects of HS on disease activity, quality of life and muscle strength in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

In a prospective, assessor-blinded, block-randomized trial, 48 AS patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either HS or conventional home (CH) exercise therapy. All Participants received 48 sessions, that is 4 sessions a week for 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measures included the quadriceps muscle strength, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale (ASQoL).

RESULTS

Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASQoL and muscle strength scores compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). BASDAI, BASFI and BASMI scores decreased significantly in the HS group compared to the CH group at week 12 (p=.005, p=.003, p=.045, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of ASQoL and muscle strength scores at week 12 (p=.245, p=.212, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this clinical trial of HS exercises for AS patients indicate a positive effect on disease activity, quality of life and muscle strength. Therefore, horse-riding simulator exercises can be used as an alternative method for the management of individuals with AS.

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Mandala Coloring, Made in Nature, on Chronic Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain: Randomized Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based mandala coloring made within nature on individuals with chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP). Thirty-six participants were randomly allocated. In the experimental group, identical interventions and procedures were administered for each experiment. The control group members were untreated and remained in an urban environment. Overall, the experiment showed significant improvements in tender points (f = 8.791, p = 0.006), total stress level (f = 14.570, p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (f = 15.205, p = 0.001), anger symptoms (f = 7.263, p = 0.011) and salivary cortisol (f = 10.619, p = 0.003) in the experimental group. The results reflect that MBMC within nature is effective in reducing pain, psychological stress responses, and cortisol levels in individuals with CWP. The positive results could be a product of the experimental design rather than the treatment itself. A rigorous experimental design provides better understanding of MBMC within nature.

Investigation of the effectiveness of aerobic exercise training in individuals with ankylosing spondylitis: Randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of the addition of aerobic training to spinal mobility exercises on disease-specific outcomes and functional exercise capacity, aerobic capacity and respiratory muscle strength of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODS

The study included 31 volunteers (mean age: 44.90 ± 11.52 years) diagnosed with AS. The demographic characteristics and disease-related data of all subjects were recorded, then, the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) and Bath AS Disease Function Index (BASFI), the 6-minute walk test, the Bruce Treadmill Test and spirometry were used, respectively. The intervention group attended a 12-week program of aerobic exercise sessions, plus supervised spinal mobility exercises, 3 days a week. The control group performed the supervised spinal mobility exercises only, 3 times a week, for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in BASDAI (p = .002), BASMI (p = .021), 6 DYT (p = .036), VO₂ max (p = .000), MIP (p = .005) and MEP (p = .022) results in the intervention group after 12 weeks of training. In the comparisons of the pre-treatment and post-treatment differences, BASDAI (p = .032) decreased and VO₂ (p = .001) max increased, showing significant improvements in the intervention group and these values were maintained.

CONCLUSION

It is striking that improvements in all parameters except BASFI were achieved in the aerobic training group. These results demonstrate that an aerobic exercise program should be included in an individual exercise prescription for the management of AS.

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis - 2019

Spondyloarthritis is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. The classification axial spondyloarthritis is adopted when the spine and/or the sacroiliac joints are predominantly involved. This version of recommendations replaces the previous guidelines published in May 2013.A systematic literature review was performed, and two hundred thirty-seven studies were selected and used to formulate 29 recommendations answering 15 clinical questions, which were divided into four sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological therapy, conventional drug therapy and biological therapy. For each recommendation the level of evidence supporting (highest available), the strength grade according to Oxford, and the degree of expert agreement (inter-rater reliability) is informed.These guidelines bring evidence-based information on clinical management of axial SpA patients, including, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

The effectiveness of specific exercise types on cardiopulmonary functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of specific exercise types on pulmonary functions, aerobic and functional capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A systematic search of Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL (EBSCO), PUBMED, AMED, EMBASE (OVID) was conducted in January 2016. The outcome measures were spirometric measurements, chest expansion, 6 minute walk distance (6MWD), pVO₂, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). The search strategy was applied with limitation of date and language and this initial electronic search resulted in 143 relevant studies. After duplicates were removed, the titles and abstracts of 52 articles were screened. Of these, 14 full-text articles met initial criteria and were retrieved for review, with eight studies meeting final inclusion criteria. Both specific and conventional exercise groups showed significant improvements in BASDAI and BASFI scores (p < 0.05) in patients with AS, although there was no significant difference between two exercise groups. As for pulmonary functions, the specific exercise groups have greater improvements than conventional group in spirometric measurement, chest expansion (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between specific conventional exercise types in 6MWD (p > 0.05). Specific exercises are an effective adjuvant therapy to enhance cardiopulmonary functions in patients with AS; therefore, it is assumed that in addition to the medical treatments, specific exercise therapy might reduce the cardiopulmonary complications related with AS.