Affiliations: [a] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department,
Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey | [b] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Meram
Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey | [c] Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu
University, Malatya, Turkey
Note: [] Corresponding author: Nilay Sahin, Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation Department, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University,
Meram/Konya, 42001, Turkey. Tel.: +90 5552332535; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Objective measurement of trunk muscles strength in
ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may provide clinical information that can be used
to evaluate functional disability. OBJECTIVE: To compare the isokinetic strength of trunk muscles in AS patients with healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with AS and thirty-one healthy subjects
were enrolled. Patients with spinal ankylosis and bridged syndesmophytes in the
lumbar and dorsal vertebrae were excluded. Trunk flexor and extensor strength
was measured at: 60 and 90°/sec. RESULTS: When compared with the control group, AS patients demonstrated 38% and 24% decrease in the
extensor and flexor strength, respectively (p< 0.05). In addition, the
flexor/extensor strength ratio was 1.0 and 0.8 in the patients and control
subjects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the relatively selective extensor weakness we recommend assessment of trunk muscle strength in
these patients for guiding clinicians regarding possible reconditioning
exercises in the early period of AS.
