Pilates en pacientes con espondilitis anquilosante: repercusión en la función pulmonar

Abstract

AimTo evaluate the impact of physiotherapy, based on the Pilates Method, on the lung function of patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Material and methodsA randomised clinical trial (RCT) was performed with 49 patients diagnosed with AS according to the modified New York criteria. Two groups were randomly established. Therapeutic Pilates-based exercise was performed by 26 patients for 17 weeks, in 90minute sessions on alternative days, supervised by a physiotherapist. The control group (23 patients) used a conventional exercise program at home. The variables analysed were: rib cage expansion, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and the FEV1/FVC ratio. ResultsNo significant differences were found in the values of rib cage expansion between control and experimental groups (P=.686), while there were differences before and after intervention in the experimental group (P=.780). The values of spirometry were similar in both control and experimental groups. No-significant increase in FVC was observed in the experimental group (P=.122). ConclusionsThe impact of Pilates-based exercises on spirometry values and rib cage expansion is limited, although there was a tendency to improve FVC after Pilates exercises. These types of exercise protocols should be considered, for their clinical application, in specific respiratory physiotherapy.