Comparison of Yoga with exercise in ankylosing spondylitis on mobility and functional capacity

Aim: To compare the effects of Yoga with traditional exercise on the mobility and functional capacity of individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: The participants of the study were recruited at the rheumatology department, adhering to the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were randomized into two groups (Group A – Yoga, and Group B – exercise).The candidates participated in an 8-week intervention consisting of 3 weekly sessions of either Yoga or Exercise intervention. Outcomes were collected at pre-treatment, at 8 weeks, and at 12 weeks. Results: The within-group comparison showed an improvement in all outcome measures with p <.05 between post-treatment and the follow-up. In the yoga group, there was an improvement in the measures of BASMI (p =.001), BASFI (p =.005), PSQI (p =.021), CE (p =.053) and NPRS (p =.001). Similarly, in the exercise group, there was an improvement in BASMI (p =.002), BASFI (p =.003), PSQI (p =.010), CE (p =.004) and NPRS (p =.001). In the between group comparison at post-treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in BASMI (yoga = 3.0 ± 1.50, exercise = 2.3 ± 1.38), PSQI (yoga = 5.3 ± 1.50, exercise = 4.9 ± 1.17) and NPRS (yoga = 1.3 ± 2.22, exercise = 0.4 ± 0.50) CE (yoga = 4.0 ± 1.18, exercise = 3.4 ± 0.96), BASFI (yoga = 1.8 ± 2.14, exercise = 2.1 ± 1.87). Conclusion: The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in within-group scores of mobility, functional capacity, sleep quality and pain in AS patients of both intervention programs but there were no significant differences between the groups.