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Best Workouts and Treatment Options for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is not just a simple back pain that can be tackled with some minor workouts. Defined as the chronic inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints, AS can also lead to arthritis at a severe and progressive rate. Sufferers might notice a bony formation in some parts of the spine that could lead it to malfunction. 

This can significantly impact mobility and flexibility to levels that make movement and independent life difficult. However, the successful use of appropriate treatment choices greatly helps to improve the level of well-being. This article will discuss complete treatment for AS, in addition to physical therapies and exercises meant to maintain flexibility and reduce pain.

Physical Therapy: 7 Best Workouts for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management

Physical therapy is a cornerstone of joint function and mobility. Exercise doesn’t just have worthy benefits for managing AS; it is necessary for this purpose. A well-rounded exercise program includes:

  1. Work on exercises such as stretching movements that will boost flexibility and eliminate stiffness.

  2. Muscle strengthening exercises that will surround the joints near the affected area.

  3. Aerobic activities like walking or swimming improve your heart health without having too much stress on your joints.

  4. Adding exercises designed by physiotherapists to reduce forward head bending and curvature of spinal vertebrae for patients with AS can be the most helpful. These exercises enhance the straightening of the spine in its proper position and decrease the risk of abnormal curvature and the pain that often accompanies it.

  5. Ankylosing spondylitis may damage the ribs, lowering the capacity of the lungs. Breathing exercises are pertinent to enhance lung function and ensure that the chest has and will remain flexible, thus making the normal respiratory function quite possible.

  6. Balance-improving activities are one of the components that help prevent the risk of falls according to the AS sufferer's spinal injuries. Practicing some Tai Chi and balance-oriented yoga poses help muscles improve stability and strength.

  7. Adding exercises that simulate the routine activities into the daily program assists these people with autism spectrum disorder (AS) to cope with their daily life in a better way, with less burden on their body as a result. The purpose of the exercises would be to entertain and mimic movements like bending, reaching or to twist in which the are controlled and safe.

Can Ankylosing Spondylitis Be Cured?

Infiltration with medications is one of the most significant treatment points in AS. The main goals are to ease inflammation, manage pain and stabilize the disease lesions. Although the presence of a large number of medications may make the treatment tedious, Celecoxib (Celebrex 200mg capsule), remains the backbone of such measures. 

This medication is a member of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) class, possessing an ability to lower pain and inflammation, the latter being selectively directed on COX-2 enzymes. The activity of COX-2 is higher in inflammation than in a healthy organism. The fact that it acts in a specific manner for glucocorticoid receptors which are responsible for most symptoms related to inflammation makes it a preferred choice of many patients since compared to other NSAIDs, there is lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects.

Conversely, biologic medications have shown to be progressive therapies in addition to AS treatment. Such medications are usually prescribed in cases where a patient either does not respond well enough or at all to traditional therapies. Biologics such as TNF inhibitors (for example, infliximab, etanercept) and IL-17 inhibitors (for instance, secukinumab) are meant to address the immune system-triggered pathways involved in inflammation processes that are characteristic for AS.

Parting Words

Managing ankylosing spondylitis can be indeed tricky, but there are tools that can help to reach a better quality of life and these tools are a wise choice of medications, physical therapy, and routine physical activity. A growing proportion of medications can not only manage symptoms but also have a curative role. In addition, physical exercises, designed to meet the patient’s abilities, have beneficial effects on mobility and decrease probability of complications. With on-going studies revealing the solution and implementation of personalized treatment plans, people living with AS can have a more satisfied and active life.

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