Ankylosing Spondylitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Strategies

Ankylosing Spondylitis Signs and Symptoms

Ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by pain in the lower back that doesn't go away, stiffness, and loss of spine flexibility. Most of the time, these symptoms come on slowly and start in the lower back and hips. They get worse over time. There may also be tiredness, a loss of weight, night sweats, a mild fever, or general pain. Some people with AS may also have problems with their eyes (which is called uveitis), heart, lungs, and even skin (which is called psoriasis).

How Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Treated

Even though there is no fix for ankylosing spondylitis yet, treatments can help you feel less pain and get better. 

Treatment often includes: 

1. Medications: Medications, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), TNF blockers, and immunosuppressants.

2. Physical therapy: to help handle pain and keep function and range of motion.

3. Surgery: In serious cases, it may be necessary to replace joints or straighten the spine.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Physiotherapy Goals:

• Flexibility and Range of Motion: Physiotherapists help AS patients maintain flexibility and joint mobility with stretching and flexibility exercises. These exercises target the spine, hips, and other afflicted joints to improve range of motion and reduce stiffness.
• Improving Posture and Alignment: Ankylosing spondylitis can alter posture and alignment. Physiotherapists use posture correction, ergonomic guidance, and exercises to improve alignment and reduce posture-related issues.
• Strengthening Core and Back Muscles: Ankylosing spondylitis rehabilitation requires strengthening exercises. These workouts strengthen the core and back, stabilising the spine. Muscles enhance posture and reduce pain.
• Breathing Exercises and Chest Expansion: Ankylosing spondylitis can restrict rib cage movement and lung capacity. Physiotherapists teach chest-expanding breathing exercises to optimise respiratory function.
• Pain Management: Physiotherapists aid AS patients with pain management. These may involve heat or cold therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual therapy, and light massage to relieve muscle tension and promote relaxation.
• Education and Self-Management: Physiotherapy educates patients about ankylosing spondylitis and self-care. Physiotherapists advise on body mechanics, ergonomics, and home exercises to supplement physiotherapy sessions.

In Delhi NCR, PhysiofyMe offers AS-specific treatment. We provide AS-specific home-based physiotherapy. Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory illness that majorly affects your spine. This illness is a form of arthritis that can alter the shape of your body. Therefore, it may also cause huge pain and lead the patient with stiffness, bad posture, sweating, fever, lower body pain, and weight loss. If this illness is not treated, it gets worse over time.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Physiotherapy: Why PhysiofyMe?

• Convenience of Home-based Care: We know it's hard for AS patients to get to the clinic. Our home-based physiotherapy services eliminate travel and stress.
• Specialised Expertise: Our physiotherapists specialise in ankylosing spondylitis. They know how to improve mobility, manage pain, and improve general well-being for AS patients.
• Individualised Treatment Plans: We provide personalised care. Physiotherapists analyse your impairments, limitations, and ambitions. Based on this assessment, they build customised treatment regimens to meet your demands and maximise function.
• Comprehensive Approach: Our AS physiotherapy services include many methods. Flexibility, posture correction, core strengthening, breathing, pain management, and self-management education are examples.