Fifteen months' follow-up of intensive inpatient physiotherapy and exercise in ankylosing spondylitis.

Long-term effects of three or four-week inpatient physiotherapy and exercise courses were studied in 141 adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Eight cervical and thoracolumbar range of motion (ROM) measurements and straight leg raise test, vital capacity (VC) and fitness index were measured at the beginning and end of an intensive course and 15 months later. All nine mobility measurements, vital capacity and fitness index were significantly improved after the course. Fifteen months later only chest expansion and vital capacity had significantly deteriorated from the baseline, while CR, FFD and fitness index were still significantly better. Disease duration did not influence treatment results. We conclude that it is possible by means of intensive rehabilitation courses to prevent for more than one year deterioration of spinal function and fitness in AS patients irrespective of disease duration.