THE EFFECTS OF COMPREHENSIVE HOME PHYSIOTHERAPY AND SUPERVISION ON PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

  • 1 February 1990
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (2) , 228-233
Abstract
Fifty-three patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were randomly allocated; 26 experimental patients received physiotherapy and disease education, 27 control patients received neither. The primary treatment outcome was change in spinal mobility measured at 4 months by fingertip-to-floor distance. Experimental patients had more improvement in fingertip-to-floor distance (p2 < 0.004) and in function (p2 < 0.001) than control patients. Physiotherapy with disease education is effective in the treatment of patients with AS.