Physio Treatment in Ankylosing Spondylitis
ByAnkylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritic disease or spondyloarthropathy, classified with reactive arthritis, bowel disease arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The underlying relationships between these diseases are complex but they are connected by enthesitis (inflammation of the ligament/bone junctions) and by possession of the HLA B27 gene on white blood cells. The enthesitis process at the joint edges can cause fibrosis and then ossification of the area (bone formation).
AS is the commonest of the spondyloarthropathies and its occurrence varies with the occurrence of the HLA B27 gene in the population, AS being less common in the tropics and more common in northern European countries. 0.1 to 1.0% of people are affected but this varies with latitude and is more common in white people. About 1-2% of people with the HLA B27 gene actually develop AS but this becomes 15-20% likelihood if they have a first degree relative with the disease.
AS occurs more often in males, with a 3:1 ratio, but females may suffer much milder disease or have minor symptoms which are not diagnosed. AS is a disease of young men, with most presenting before they are 40 years old, and 10-20% presenting with the disease before they are 16. On average people get the symptoms of the disease around 25 years old and are rarely diagnosed when over 50 years of age. The condition is often missed initially as it presents as low back pain so it is important to take a proper history. A useful question is “how does your back feel when you wake up” and AS patients will all say “very stiff”.
Ankylosing spondylitis has similarities but distinct differences from the much more common low back pain:
Morning back stiffness lasting half an hour and often longer Back pain improved with exercise Back pain worsened with rest Night pain later on in the night Other joints may be affected Fatigue is common Active inflammatory disease can cause systemic affects such as unwellness, weight loss or fever
A significant reduction in the ranges of spinal motion is usually recorded by the physiotherapy examination of an AS patient, with a flattened lumbar curve and an accentuated thoracic kyphosis. Later involvement can include reduced neck ranges of motion and reduced chest excursion from involvement of the rib joints. Peripheral inflammation at insertion sites occurs in about one third of patients, the commonest sites being the insertion of the tendo Achilles on to the calcaneum and the insertion of the plantar ligament in the foot. These areas cope with large mechanical loads which may be why they more commonly occur.
Postural analysis of the AS patient is the first thing a physiotherapist notes after the subjective examination, recording spinal abnormalities, flexed knees, rounded shoulders or poking head posture. The ranges of movement of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are measured and a battery of standard measures taken which allows assessment of the disease progression. The hips or other peripheral joints may be affected and these need to be measured also, with the physio likely testing out sites where the enthesis is likely to be painful and inflamed. If the disease is active then the patient may also have joint effusions and may appear unwell, be sweating and not have slept well.
Initially a physiotherapist might treat an active, inflamed site such as the tendo Achilles insertion using ultrasound, ice and gentle stretching, with foot problems responding to insole use. Whole spine exercises are taught with encouragement to get to the end of the movements, concentrating on antigravity movements including extension of the lumbar and thoracic spine, rotation of the thorax and neck retraction and rotations. To counter the typical spinal deformities, patients are taught to rest in good positions such as flat on a firm surface with only one pillow and lying prone. Pool therapy is very popular and effective and patient education is vital to maintain therapy over time.
