Enhancing spinal mobility and functional capacity through aerobic exercise and yoga in ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

51 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were randomized and completed treatment with aerobic exercise alone or aerobic exercise combined with yoga-based exercises. The primary outcome was spinal mobility, assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). Secondary outcomes included chest expansion, handgrip strength, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), disease activity, quality of life, pulmonary function, aerobic capacity, and hemodynamic measures. Outcomes were assessed before and after the 6-week intervention. Overall, the results of the study revealed that adding yoga produced greater improvements in chest expansion, BASMI, handgrip strength, BASFI, 6-MWT, and resting systolic blood pressure in unadjusted analyses. After Holm-Bonferroni correction, chest expansion, BASMI, and 6-MWT remained significantly better with the combined program. These findings suggested that yoga may provide additional benefits for spinal mobility and functional capacity when added to supervised aerobic exercise in patients with AS.