Positive effects of a four week Rehabilitation Spa program on Quality of life in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Dušan Mustur

doi:10.5937/afmnai38-33135

Dušan Mustur Medicinski fakultet, Univerzitet Crne Gore

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai38-33135

Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis, Quality of Life, Spa Physical Therapy.

Abstract

This is an open uncontrolled study about positive effects of a four weeks rehabilitation spa program on Quality of life of 74 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. We assessed following health status parameters on the admission and discharge from the Institute Igalo, Montenegro: BASFI, BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, ASAS 20 improvement criteria and SF-36 questionnaire. It was a “test-retest study”. All the patients had six days of spa physical therapy per week during the four weeks rehabilitation program, which made summary 24 therapy days. Therapy sets icluded execise program in gym and pool with mineral water, breathing exercises, massage therapy, balneotherapy (mud packs of baths, mineral and pearl baths, underwater massages), electrotherapy, sonotherapy, so as thalassotherapy. Physiotherapy was prescribed by physician individually according to general health status and eventual contraindications. In all observed parameters statistical analysis showed that there is a highly significant improvement (p<0.01). After four weeks of spa rehabilitation, ASAS 20 improvement index was achieved in 74.3% of patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Conclusions were that four weeks of complex spa physical therapy program in Institute Igalo leeds to a significant improvement of all assessed parameters of disease activity, functional status and in all domains of quality of life.

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