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Exercise with Swiss ball improves walking in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
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An exercise program that incorporates the use of a Swiss ball can improve muscle strength and walking performance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, according to a study presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress.
“Our study has confirmed that a progressive muscle strengthening program using a Swiss ball significantly improves functional capacity, muscle strength and mobility in patients with [ankylosing spondylitis] AS, with no harmful effects on disease activity,” Marcelo Cardoso de Souza, PT, MSc, from the Division of Rheumatology at Federal University in São Paulo, Brazil, stated in a press release from the congress.
According to the study abstract, Souza and colleagues randomized 60 patients into either intervention or control groups. The intervention group conducted eight exercises on the Swiss ball with free weights twice times a week for 16 weeks, with weights adjusted every 4 weeks. The control group was put on a wait list and continued their drug therapy without any exercise.
The intervention group significantly improved muscle strength in the muscles used to perform the exercises, which included abdominal and triceps, and for rowing, reverse fly and squat exercises, according to the abstract. Compared to the control group, the intervention group also performed significantly better on the 6-minute walk test at 16 weeks.
Reference:
Souza M. Benefits of progressive muscle strengthening using a Swiss ball in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A randomized controlled trial. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. June 12-15, 2013; Madrid.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.