Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Does PT help?

Hi there,

For me, PT does help. However, there are certain sets of exercises that are more helpful than others...and I found out by trial and error. If you are in great pain, then better start with the gentler ones first and don't be too hard on yourself. For me, PT alleviates but doesn't take away ALL the pain.

All the best!

I don't use PT, but I do exercise. Actually, truth be told, I am an exercise believer when it comes to AS. But it has to be done carefully in that it is easy to hurt ourselves/do too much ... especially when in flare.

If you're in flare, do gentle stretching and mobility exercises, because not to do so ultimately will exacerbate the longterm problems. But you have to start where you are, instead of going whole hog, at first; especially if you haven't been able to exercise for some time.

Start slowly, go low/no impact (ie swimming) and work up to a full programme. For instance, if you can only do five minutes at a time, start there and work up to 15 minutes at a time. Start with stretching/flexibility at first, then when you can do 15 minutes at a time of that, add strengthening. When you can also do 15 minutes at a time of that, add cardio. In all cases, start where you are (even if it's only one minute at a time, which you do 15 times a day) and work up to 15 minutes at a time.

Exercise will generally cause some pain or discomfort in pretty much everyone. However, if you hurt for more than a couple of hours (say into the next day or so), or you go into flare, then you've done too much and need to rethink your programme.

All of this, flexibility, strengthening and cardio can be done in a pool, by the way, which will lower the impact on your already beleagured joints. Just make sure the pool is heated.

Hugs,

I had to look for this because I didn't have time to respond earlier.
PT will not take away "all the pain". However, PT when taught properly and done properly over a lifespan will strengthen you up to where you won't hurt anywhere near as much. Anything you can do to strengthen your muscles causes less stress upon your joints when you move.
I've fought a spinal curvature most of my life, I am a fanatic about abdominal exercises in that I've kept doing them for probably going on 35 years by this point, and I'm pretty sure that is one of the the things keeping me up on my feet and out of a wheelchair so far, and keeping my neck so far from freezing up completely.
Exercise also releases endorphins which are wonderful, temporary pain killers with no bad side effects.
Be sure your PTherapist understands what your problem is, it may take more than one teacher/facility to get it to where you are improved. And don't stop once it's over...keep going and doing them. Use it or lose it...literally. Best of luck to you.