Even several 5- to 10-minute sessions spread throughout the day count. She recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day, three times per week. Strength exercises keep the muscles around the joints strong, while flexibility exercises increase your range of motion, says Wu. The Spondylitis Association of America recommends an exercise program that incorporates balance, cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises. “It can help keep control of the symptoms, manage the inflammation, and give you a sense of control.”
“Exercise helps to keep your posture upright and the joints as mobile as possible,” says Karena Wu, a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy at ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City and fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. As a result, a person with AS may develop a hunched-forward posture. As the inflammation that causes AS progresses from the sacroiliac joints of the lower back (where the spine meets the hips) up the spine over time, it can lead to fusion of the vertebrae.
Regular exercise is a critical part of managing symptoms and disease progression for anyone with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the spine.