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Exercise with Swiss ball improves walking in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
An exercise program that incorporates the use of a Swiss ball can improve muscle strength and walking performance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, according to a study presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. Read more

http://www.healio.com/orthopedics/spine/news/online/%7B5CD1AB33-75CA-4107-8F65-0B485767769B%7D/Exercise-with-Swiss-ball-improves-walking-in-patients-with-ankylosing-spondylitis

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Exercise with Swiss ball improves walking in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
June 13, 2013
An exercise program that incorporates the use of a Swiss ball can improve muscle strength and walking performance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, according to a study presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress.
“Our study has confirmed that a progressive muscle strengthening program using a Swiss ball significantly improves functional capacity, muscle strength and mobility in patients with [ankylosing spondylitis] AS, with no harmful effects on disease activity,” Marcelo Cardoso de Souza, PT, MSc, from the Division of Rheumatology at Federal University in São Paulo, Brazil, stated in a press release from the congress.

According to the study abstract, Souza and colleagues randomized 60 patients into either intervention or control groups. The intervention group conducted eight exercises on the Swiss ball with free weights twice times a week for 16 weeks, with weights adjusted every 4 weeks. The control group was put on a wait list and continued their drug therapy without any exercise.

The intervention group significantly improved muscle strength in the muscles used to perform the exercises, which included abdominal and triceps, and for rowing, reverse fly and squat exercises, according to the abstract. Compared to the control group, the intervention group also performed significantly better on the 6-minute walk test at 16 weeks.

Reference:

Souza M. Benefits of progressive muscle strengthening using a Swiss ball in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A randomized controlled trial. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. June 12-15, 2013; Madrid.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.



They have just come down from the annual conference - this time round, venue in Madrid.

See also 'side interest' stories (see link) -

*Study: Wait to perform surgery on patients with cervical ...
*Pain origin difficult to diagnose in patients with lumbar spinal ...
*Vertebral augmentation improves deformity of vertebral body ...

yes well - I think *any* regular exercise programme would improve performance on the walking test!

Consistency is the key.

Swiss balls are a great tool though.

I did try it - kept falling off and it hurt my SIs so desisted...

Good decision Molly. :o) I have done my share of falling also. LOL

I am using these in P.T. right now and wondering if it is a good idea for my fused back. It sure increased my sciatica so I told my therapist to stop for now.

I was thinking that too Louise!

I got given some swiss ball exercises to "improve my core stability" - turned out all it did was cause me to wobble about on my SI joints so much it just made things worse.

The first time I was given a Swiss Ball to use, I kept falling off too! My current programme uses one, but I'm not actually on it. I kneel on the floor in front of it, clasp my hands together and rest my forearms on top of the Ball, then roll the ball out to the front, keeping my arms on it. My abs get a real workout when I roll it back toward myself, using my abs to control the move. It also works my tricepts.

I found this website that has this exercise on it, because I don't think I described it well enough. Look for the Ball Ab Rollout.

Ball Exercises

Anyway, there are tons of things you can do with the Ball, other than having to take your life in your hands by sitting on it.

Love and Warm Hugs,

Oooh errr - no way. Can't do 'knees' bit. Got the balls but... Errr, mean, I have two - no, this is getting worse <LOL> Desist woman...!!

LOL!!

I want to tell few things about swiss ball...five years ago when I had major AS attack which lasted more than three months swiss ball put me back on my feet and was my incredible help. The most immpoftant thing about this ball is to use it in the way it suits you. If it is to hard for you pump it out, if it is too soft pump it up. Use it as support, dont make heavy exercises in the first time. Just lay over it and breathe, let your spind extend and your muscle stretch. Sit on the ball hold your knees at 90 degrees angle and look straight, try to stay in that position for 15 seconds and breathe...if floor is too hard for you use mattress, lay on your back an put your legs on the ball to extend your leg muscles. As time passes you will be more familiar with ball and allow yourself to try harder exercises.