Exercise blogsHigh Intensity Exercise – Does it Have a Place in the Management of Axial Spondyloarthropathy?As we emerge from the pandemic sport has taken on a renewed importance in our lives. From the coming together during the Euro’s and the Olympics, to being able to play sport again with our friends it has helped to lift people’s spirits. So imagine, when your world revolves around sport, being told you have Axial Spondyloarthropathy (axial SpA). In my twenty plus years working in Rheumatology, it still makes me sad to meet people living with axial SpA who have given up on the sport they love as they believe it could make their condition worse. We all know about the importance of exercise in the management of axial SpA; but do we always think about exercise in its broadest context? Yes, we know those people living with axial SpA that we work with need flexibility exercises, but do we always consider high intensity exercise? There is no greater motivational tool to exercise than doing something you are passionate about; but for many living with axial SpA the fear of making their condition worse makes them turn their backs on sport.
As Physiotherapists we have a vital role in educating and ensuring people living with axial SpA are able to live their lives to the full. With the advancements in the treatment of axial SpA it need not be a life-changing condition. Phil Mickleson’s recent win at the PGA golf championships despite having psoriatic arthritis shines a beacon of hope for all those people who have given up on sport because they have an inflammatory condition. A recent study in the British Journal of Sports medicine helps support the message that sport is safe. Halvorsen Sveaas et al. (2020) investigated the effectiveness of high intensity exercise on disease activity in people living with axial SpA. A group of 100 participants aged between 18-70 years with an average Bath Ankylosing Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) of > 3.5 were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a no intervention control group. The primary outcome measures used were the Ankylosing Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and the BASDAI. Over a 3 month period, the participants in the exercise group carried out cardiorespiratory exercises 3 days a week. Two days supervised running or walking on a treadmill/cycle ergometer and 1 day unsupervised walking, running or cycling at a fitness centre. Two days a week they carried out supervised strength training; this included squats, leg press, deadlifts, rows to chest, bench press, shoulder press, pull downs and sit ups. The strength training was individually adapted. The exercise group were shown to have a 23% difference in the ASDAS when compared to the control group and there was a 24% difference in the BASDAI compared to the control group. As well as the reduction in disease activity there was also a significant improvement in their V02max. These findings are important in reassuring people living with with axial SpA that they can continue with high intensity exercise, not just as a means of maintaining cardiovascular fitness but being able to continue to enjoy sport alongside their friends and family. Brophy et al. (2013) reported that intrinsic motivation, freely choosing to exercise because it is pleasurable and fun, is associated to the greatest effect on exercise levels and benefit to function. It is therefore important that when we are educating people living with axial SpA about exercise, that we discuss what they enjoy doing, and in creating a tailor made programme for that patient we include this. Hopefully, in doing so we will see better adherence with exercise and enhance all the benefits that go along with that.
 ??????? There are still very few studies that look at the effects of high intensity exercise in axial SpA. There is a need for further research in this field whilst there is still the misconception that high intensity exercise will cause a flare up of axial SpA. Working to dispel this myth would be a big step forward in improving the outlook for many people living with axial SpA by ensuring they do not abandon their sporting activities and all the physical and mental improvements that they bring. Halvorsen Sveaas S et al. (2020) High Intensity Exercise for 3 Months Reduces Disease Activity in Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Multicentre Randomised Trial of 100 Patients. British J Sports Medicine 54 (5) 292-297 Brophy S et al. (2013) The Effect of Physical Activity and Motivation on Function in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 42 (6) 619 - 626
Sue
June 2021 BSR eLearning - spotlight on Axial SpAAfter a period of failing to produce our monthly blog, June is our month to gradually introduce this back into your learning schedules. Please do bear with us as we get things back together for what will hopefully soon be a monthly blog released on the first Monday of each month...back to our usual routine for July.
Our aims at AStretch remain to share best practise and promote best care for people living with Axial SpA. Of course, we don't do this alone, and this month we wanted to spotlight one of the organisations we work closely with, namely the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR). The BSR is the national society for rheumatology and has recently amalgamated its medical and health professional sections as well as its paediatric arms into one combined Society. This has been a great move for physiotherapy and for health professions as a whole as we get more closely associated with all members of the team that look after those living with rheumatological diagnoses. One of the aims of the BSR at the moment is to invest and develop its eLearning platform. This has led to a recent implementation of a Digital Learning Board which is meant to act in the same way as an editorial board would do for a more traditional paper journal based output. One of our members of the AStretch committee was fortunate enough to be recruited to this Digital Learning Board and therefore we at AStretch have a voice and strong representation at this level. Amongst other benefits, this has led to the allocation of the month of June for the BSR eLearning to be more focused on physiotherapists (and other allied health professionals) and to offer content around the management of those living with axial SpA. Not all physiotherapists working in rheumatology are members of the British Society of Rheumatology, and for that reason the membership team at the BSR did offer free access to all interested physiotherapists to the June eLearning content, more than 40 physiotherapists took up this offer (offer finished 5th July 2021)  
Here is a screenshot of the menu of learning activities you'll see on accessing the BSR eLearning content for this June month of focus on axial SpA and we do hope you'll find it useful. It includes an eLearning case study written by Will Gregory. There's an expert webinar on axial SpA delivered by Professor Karl Gaffney. We've got a new podcast recorded specifically for the eLearning where two members of the 2017 NICE SpA guidelines development group (Dr. Carol McCrum and Dr. Nicola Goodson) discuss how the guideline was written and its current application in 2021. We also have free access to a journal article on the Early Inflammatory Back Pain service that Becky Adshead runs at Barts, ten years of experience and an exemplar service. And finally, there is a webinar on investigation interpretation thinking about bloods and their role in diagnosing back pain as well as potential differential diagnosis including red flag issues. This is a great development that the BSR are investing in eLearning and are clearly committed to physiotherapists and also to axial SpA. We are really keen that as many people as possible can access the June learning and hence this slight hijack of the AStretch blog to spread the word far and wide. We will be back to usual educational, informative and evidence-based blog content next month so please do lookout for the new blog dropping Tuesday 6th of July. 
Will
Five Reasons People with Axial SpA might not do Physio Exercises and What Might Help….February 2020: As February starts, if you are anything like me, the New Year’s resolutions that we made on the 1st of January start waning. My brand new trainers have had a few outings, but far less than I had hoped. Starting an exercise programme is hard, and keeping it going is even harder.
Physiotherapists who work with people with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) prescribe exercises that improve spinal mobility, cardiovascular health, function and quality of life. Although evidence suggests that the exercises improve clinical outcomes, people with axial SpA don’t always manage to start their exercises, many (like me) struggle to do it as often as prescribed and some can stop all together. Here are five common reasons why people struggle to complete their exercises and some hints of where we can help……1. Time.Sounds simple. Time is the most commonly reported barrier to exercising. Time pressures come from work, family obligations and study; with these often prioritised before time for exercise. It has been suggested that lack of time actually represents lack of motivation, but a recent study found that those who report lack of time as a barrier to exercise actually had less free time than those who didn’t report lack of time as a barrier. What might help? Try including a support network, such as family, into the exercise programme and incorporate exercises into the working day. 2. Concurrent medical problems.People with axial SpA often have other health problems, such as mental health problems, hypertension and osteoporosis. Following multiple medical regimes can overload people. What might help? Tailoring exercises regimes to the individual, keeping them simple, enjoyable and varied. Again, include any support networks such as family, friends, work colleagues or health care professionals. 
3. Symptoms.Axial SpA manifestations include inflammatory back pain, arthritis of the lower limbs, dactylitis (‘sausage’- like digits), enthesitis at the heel or other sites, uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. Individuals with axial SpA commonly complain of fatigue, stiffness, flares and pain. These symptoms are variable, but for a proportion of individuals with axial SpA these will be intense, frequent and disabling. Those with troublesome disease symptoms may be less likely to do their exercises. What might help? Exercise may help some symptoms – but not everyone might be aware of this, so education on this will help. Also, start exercise plans off slowly and build up, and set simple achievable goals. Refer onto other colleagues who might also be able to help with the symptoms. 4. Fear.Some people are scared the exercises are going to do more harm than good, or that they are not doing them correctly. What might help? Practise the exercises with the individual, provide digital resources so the person can see the exercises, and educational resources to reassure the person. 5. Self-efficacy.This is an individual’s belief in their ability to complete specific tasks, in this case the exercises. People with low self-efficacy typically stop the task if they encounter problems such as understanding the regime, being physically unfit, busy or tired. Those with high level of self-efficacy, do their best to improve skills and overcome the obstacles. What might help? Interventions such as education resources and support can improve self-efficacy and feedback to the individual on how they are doing. Again, provide support. There are probably not just five, but more than a hundred and five reasons why people find it difficult to adhere to their prescribed exercise programmes. The World Health Organisation suggests adherence is determined by a complex interaction between healthcare, personal, socioeconomic, treatment and condition constructs. If an individual is struggling, exploring with the person their reasons for why they are finding it difficult and considering tailoring interventions are steps to improving adherence. 
MT McDonald, Physiotherapist, Glasgow Email mmd7@gcu.ac.uk Bibliography
ANONIMO et al. (2003) Adherence to Long-term Therapies: Evidence for Action. World Health Organisation.
Reichert, F.F. et al. (2007) "The role of perceived personal barriers to engagement in leisure-time physical activity" American Journal of Public Health, 97(3), 515-519
DiMatteo MR, Lepper HS, Croghan TW. Depression Is a Risk Factor for Noncompliance With Medical Treatment: Meta-analysis of the Effects of Anxiety and Depression on Patient Adherence. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(14):2101–2107.
O’Dwyer, T., McGowan, E., O’Shea, F., & Wilson, F. (2016). Physical Activity and Exercise: Perspectives of Adults With Ankylosing Spondylitis, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13(5), 504-513 Some further reading (and watching): AStretch supporting people with AxSpA over the lockdown periodThese have been most unusual times and we have all been working differently. We are very lucky as a group of physiotherapists working with people with AxSpA to have the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society encouraging and enabling us. These past few months we've worked with NASS on a handful of public-facing resources. And so, in lieu of any new material for this August blog, please find below some links to these resources. Whilst essentially recorded for people with AxSpA, we've had good feedback from a number of physiotherapists and other health care professions who have found them useful for their own learning. In addition to the individual links below there is a summary page on the NASS website of what we at AStretch have done as well as ALL the other sessions NASS have hosted in the past few months, please do have a look here https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/my-as-my-life/ there is absolutely loads covered and a fantastic combination of blogs, videos and further reading. WillLOOKING FOR OUR OLDER BLOGS? |