Ab1804

Relationship between pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ü. Seçkin¹, N. Bölükbasi², G. Gürsel³, S. Eröz², V. Sepici², N. Ekim³

¹Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; ²Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and ³Department of Respiratory Disease, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

ABSTRACT
Objective
It is a well-known fact that pulmonary function is altered in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mainly due to the restriction of chest wall movements. The objective of this study was to investigate whether alterations in pulmonary function affected exercise capacity.

Methods
Twenty male patients with definite AS and 20 age-matched healthy male controls were recruited for the study. All subjects were assessed for functional status by BASFI and physical activity level. Measurement of chest expansion and lumbar spinal flexion by the modified Schober method were performed. Pulmonary function tests and exercise testing on a treadmill using the Bruce protocol were performed.

Results
The physical activity level was similar in both groups. In the AS group the mean BASFI score suggested good functional capacity, while chest expansion and modified Schober measurements were significantly lower and pulmonary function tests revealed restrictive lung disease. The results of the exercise tolerance test were similar in both groups except for the rate of perceived exertion.

Conclusion
This study demonstrated that exercise capacity in AS patients is not influenced by the limitation of chest wall movements, probably due to the maintenance of moderate physical activity along with an active life style.

Key words
Ankylosing spondylitis, pulmonary function, exercise testing.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Ümit Seçkin, MD, Güvenlik Cad. No:113/5 Asagi-Ayranci, Ankara, Turkey.
E-mail: pinarb@ato.org.tr