[Specific and aspecific sports activities of patients with Bechterew's disease]

Regular physical exercise is a major positive influence for the course of ankylosing spondylitis. By means of a standardized questionnaire, a total of 118 patients (78 male, 40 female) with ankylosing spondylitis were asked about their regular physical activity. The patients' mean age was 47 years, and they have been suffering from the symptoms of the disease for (a mean) 17 years. Twenty-nine percent of the patients practice disease-specific exercises daily. Thirty-nine percent have not received any instructions about the optimal exercises in the previous 5 years. Most information had been given by the physiotherapist at home or at the health resort. Non-specific physical exercises are practiced by half of the patients. Lack of time and lack of motivation are the major factors preventing the patients from greater activity. Deficient mobility was claimed by 37 of the 118 patients to prevent them from practicing sports. Better information, and hence motivation, of the patients are suggested by our findings as the most useful way to foster wider use of physical exercise.