Evaluation of Respiratory Rehabilitation in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (spondylos = vertebra, ankylos = curved) is an inflammatory disease with predominant axial skeletal involvement and obligatory sacroiliac joint involvement, capable of affecting, with varying frequency and severity, peripheral joints and may also have extra-articular determinations. The main motivation of this study is the desire to demonstrate that there is a close relationship between respiratory muscle performance and exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The methodological approach of the study consisted of a group of 21 patients. Statistical analysis was based on patient characteristics such as age, weight, height, body mass index, and thoracic expansion was measured. For the correct individualization of rehabilitation programs, the clinical form (with thoracic hyperkyphosis or straight spine), the age of the disease, the peripheral joints affected, the stage of injury, the degree of reducibility of the vicious attitudes, the impairment of thoracic breathing, the type of occupational spinal demands, the general condition and associated diseases will be taken into account. The results obtained proved that the application of respiratory physiotherapy procedures, based on the diagnosis, needs and limitations of the patients, correlated with tests to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the recovery process, shows an increase in abdominal muscle strength that is not statistically significant. The 2-week rehabilitation cure is insufficient to modulate respiratory function and increase respiratory muscle strength. The subjective appreciation given by patients to the cure is due to other physiological changes produced by the rehabilitation cure such as: softening of connective and muscle structures, muscle relaxation.