Effects of Global Postural Reeducation Exercise and Anti-TNF Treatments on Disease Activity, Function, Fatigue, Mobility, Sleep Quality and Depression in Patients with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Prospective Follow-Up Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combination therapy with global postural reeducationexercise (GPR) and anti-TNF treatments on clinical parameters in patients with active Ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sixty patients with active AS were distributed into three groups. Group 1 was given antiTNF therapy plus GPR program. Group 2 was given anti-TNF and conventional exercise therapy. Group 3 was accepted asthe control group. Patients were assessed according to pain, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease ActivityIndex), functionality (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and walking performance), mobility (lumbar Schöber, chestexpansion, hand-finger to floor distance), fatigue (Multidimensional Assessment Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleepquality index), and depression.RESULTS: The parameters were significantly improved in both groups receiving exercise and anti-TNF therapy compared tothe control group after treatment. The anti-TNF plus GPR exercise therapy resulted in greater improvements than the anti-TNFplus conventional exercise therapy in pain, walking performance, and mobility.CONCLUSIONS: Anti-TNF therapy and exercise were efficient in both groups on improving all clinic parameters. However,the improvements in pain, function, and mobility were greater in the active AS patients with GPR exercise method. Therefore,motivated patients should be encouraged to perform this method. © 2018-IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.