Abstract
Objective: The objective of the research was to determine the effect of two educational and compensation exercise programmes on the mobility of the axial system, the functional status and disease activity (including inflammatory process activity) in individuals with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: The research group included men and women, all out-patients of the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague.
This characteristic sample (n ═ 38) consisted of respondents who were randomised into three groups: The first experimental group (n ═ 13) attended an educational and compensation exercise programme in a group setting in a gym (twice a week) and group exercise in a pool - hydrokinesiotherapy (once a week); the second experimental group (n ═ 13) attended the same educational and compensation exercise programme in a group setting in a gym (twice a week); the control group received no exercise intervention but its members were allowed to use "passive" physiotherapeutic procedures (e.g. hydrotherapy or electrotherapy). The experiment focused on three key output variables: mobility of the axial system, the functional status and disease activity including evaluation of the inflammatory process activity.
Axial system mobility was assessed using the following measurement methods: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index - this method measures five mobility parameters and chest expansion. Functional status was assessed subjectively based on a standardised questionnaire - the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index.
Inflammatory process activity in the first and the second experimental group was assessed objectively twice during the experiment - at the beginning and after three months - with values obtained by lab tests on blood samples focusing on acute phase reactants (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and other inflammation parameters - adipocytokines (resistin, leptin, adiponectin, visfatin).