Physical therapy in axial spondyloarthritis: guidelines, evidence and clinical practice

We present evidence supporting the use of exercise as treatment for patients with axSpA, recent updates among different exercise modalities, and make clear its critical place in the management of this condition. Recent large, multicentre data have shown that high-intensity exercise can improve disease activity and also positively impact cardiovascular risk factors in these patients. Although international treatment guidelines advocate the inclusion of physical activity and exercise for the optimal management of axSpA, specific guidance about the amount of exercise required to produce a beneficial effect is lacking. Summary Exercise must be used in the management of axSpA, and whilst hydrotherapy and flexibility exercises are traditionally the main focus, other applications, such as strength training, may be underutilized domains. Further studies are needed to determine the dose–response relationship between exercise and axSpA patient subsets.
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Tags: SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES: Edited by Joerg Ermann Source Type: research