Stretching in Water and on Land for Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Multidimensional mobility exercises, combined with breathing exercise protocol was established by a committee of specialized physiotherapists and rheumatologist. Land-based and aquatic-based exercises were designed according to environmental features (gravity, buoyancy, viscosity etc).

A conventional home exercise programme was given by a specialized physiotherapist to control group. Patients were checked and encouraged to continue their programs by weekly phone calls for eight weeks