Search

Context: Axial spondyloarthritis (Ax-spA) is a disease for which there is hardly any treatment ensuring permanent cure. Hence, rehabilitation is the mainstay of management for improving the quality of life and sustaining socioeconomic productivity. A randomized controlled trial was done to assess the improvement in physical function and reduction in spinal pain after a supervised rehabilitation program (SRP). Aims: This study aims to assess the effect on physical function and spinal pain in patients with Ax-spA after a 3-month SRP. Settings and Design: A concurrent parallel randomized controlled trial was done at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, during June 2014 to July 2015 after approval from the institutional ethics committee. Subjects and Methods: A total of 63 participants (53 male, 10 female) with Ax-spA, aged 18–45 years, were randomly allocated into two groups. Participants of intervention group had undergone SRP and control group were put on home exercise program for 3 months. Physical function was measured by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and spinal pain was measured by numerical rating score (NRS) at baseline and after 3 months. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were collected and compiled in Microsoft Office Excel 7 and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Results: After 3 months, BASFI improved significantly in both groups, whereas intergroup analysis showed a significant improvement (P < 0.001) in the intervention group compared to the control group. Spinal pain measured with NRS improved significantly in both groups, whereas intergroup analysis showed a significant improvement (P < 0.001) in the intervention group. Conclusions: Physical function and spinal pain improved significantly after SRP in patients with Ax-spA.