Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of most dreaded Rheumatological disease as it affects people when they are young and productive. The main pathological injury occurs at the junction of sacrum and ilium in the low back region known as the Sacroiliac joints. Sacroiliac joints are formed by apposition of two flat surfaced bones and is practically devoid of any form of movement. Initial damage causes widening of the joint followed by gradual disorganised new bone formation and ultimately fusion of the joint. The exercises for Ankylosing Spondylitis are designed in such a way that all the movements and postures keep the Sacroiliac joint in motion. The following exercises can be practised either at home or in the gym for best results.
Warnings:
- All exercises should be started slowly and with extreme caution so as not to cause any muscle tear or sprain. Inadvertent overzealous activity might cause sore muscles.
- Yogasanas need special supervision under a qualified yoga therapist for best results.
- Patients who have limited mobility of the spine, neck or the rib cage should practice stretching exercises to ease out with sprained muscles and ligaments before initiating vigorous activities.
Cycling
Either outdoors or in the Gym, Cycling often leaving the seat is one of the most easy exercises even at remotest of places.
Cross Training
Excellent sweating out exercise that causes hip movement & also delayed hip osteoarthritis.
Sprint
A short distance fast run is called sprint usually 80 to 100 meters at a go. Keep building up rounds with intermittent rest.
Spot Jogging
Jumping or Jogging on spot is another good exercise to keep the hips in motion. This can even be practised at home.
Hip Adduction
The image explains well why this hip squeezing exercises can produce stretch on the sacroiliac joints and thus keep it in motion.
Ardhamatsendrasana
This exercise cause excessive twisting force on the low back and the sacroiliac joints thus helping to stay pain free for long.
Trikonasan
This actually is called Privitratrikonasana. Understandibly this posture causes the lumbar spine to rotate on the pelvic bone – one of most useful home exercises.
Swimming
Swimming is the most important exercise that can achieve the much needed movement of sacroiliac joints. This can be considered as the single most important exercise of all
There are only three ways to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis. 1. Exercise 2. Exercise and 3. More Exercise. The medicines which are used to manage are painkillers and Biologics. The former can’t be taken for long and the later is pretty costly. Thus the only free and effective therapy available for Ankylosing Spondylitis management is Exercise.
