Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis Exercise Program

There are certain exercises and movement that you cannot do when suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). In fact, certain exercises are harmful to ankylosing spondylitis sufferers such as gymnastics and cycling. But, there are other exercises that are beneficial to AS sufferers such as swimming and pilates. Hence, it is important that people who have AS should know what movements and exercise they should do and avoid. The best way they could do this is by writing an Ankylosing Spondylitis exercise plan.

swimming for ankylosing spondylitis
pilates for ankylosing spondylitis

For an Ankylosing Spondylitis exercise plan, the plan should have a list that consists of:

  • Exercises that benefit Ankylosing Spondylitis – exercises such as swimming, walking, stretching, pilates are very beneficial to AS patients.
  • Exercises that should be avoided that will aggravate Ankylosing Spondylitis – any movement that requires constant lumbar flexion (bending of the back), prolonged sitting or periods of prolonged weight bearing (such as standing) will aggravate AS symptoms and disease. Some exercises that should be avoided are; cycling, rowing, power lifting and gymnastics.

  • A daily work out routine – a daily routine of at least 30 minutes of exercise is the minimum a person with AS should do a day. This is to ensure the joints in the low back and sacral iliac joints are in healthy condition. Not doing a daily work out routine will lead into increase stiffness and pain in the low back.
  • A weekly, monthly and yearly goal – any plan should have a goal. Without a goal, it is easy to lose motivation and focus of decreasing AS symptoms and progression of the disease. Having both short term goals (weekly/monthly) and long term goals (yearly) will keep a person with AS motivated.
  • Reward of keeping fit and healthy – the best reward of having an Ankylosing Spondylitis diet plan is to be fit and healthy. People should reward themselves for sticking onto the plan as it will increase motivation and compliance to the plan.
  • Penalty of not doing exercises – penalties helps to make sure that the plan is still in check and makes the person focus on the goal. With no penalty, there is a decreased compliance of the plan.

This plan is best prescribed or written in conjunction with a trained healthy professional such as a physical therapist or rheumatologist. This is because the health professional will have in depth knowledge and experience of certain routines and movements that should be avoided and should be done as for the ankylosing spondylitis exercise plan.

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