Experts' beliefs on physiotherapy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis and assessment of their knowledge on published evidence in the field. Results of a questionnaire among international ASAS members. The effects of comprehensive home physiotherapy and supervision on patients with ankylosing spondylitis--a randomized controlled trial. Group treatment for pain and discomfort. Establishment of the minimum clinically important difference for the bath ankylosing spondylitis indices: a prospective study. Fifteen months' follow-up of intensive inpatient physiotherapy and exercise in ankylosing spondylitis Radiographic progression of ankylosing spondylitis after up to two years of treatment with etanercept. The effects of comprehensive home physiotherapy and supervision on patients with ankylosing spondylitis--an 8-month followup. The effectiveness of intensive group exercise on patients with ankylosing spondylitis Is magnetotherapy applied to bilateral hips effective in Ankylosing spondylitis patients? A randomized, double-blind, controlled study Physiotherapy and a Homeopathic Complex for Chronic Low-back Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study. [Clinical results of a multicentral double-blind examination of naproxen compared to indomethacin in chronic rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthrosis]. The clinical application of etanercept in Chinese patients with rheumatic diseases Long-term benefits of radon spa therapy in rheumatic diseases: results of the randomised, multi-centre IMuRa trial Defining disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis: is a combination of variables (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) an appropriate instrument? Persistent clinical efficacy and safety of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy with infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis over 5 years: evidence for different types of response. A three-week multidisciplinary in-patient rehabilitation programme had positive long-term effects in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: randomized controlled trial. Comparison of group-based exercise versus home-based exercise in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: effects on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Indices, quality of life and depression
AIM The aim of this study was to assess both the opinion of an international group of experts about the place and importance of physiotherapy in the management of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) as well as the awareness of the responders about scientific evidence on efficacy and cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy in AS . METHODS An e-mail question naire ' ' Experts ' Beliefs on Physiotherapy for Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis ' ' has been sent to all 71 international ASsessment of Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS ) members . Completion of the twenty-eight-item question naire was done through the ASAS website ( www.ASAS-group.org ) . RESULTS The number of responders was 53 ( response rate 73 % ) . Altogether 94 % of the responders regard themselves as experts in the field of clinical care for AS patients . There is almost unanimous ( 86 - 92 % ) consensus on the efficacy of physiotherapy ( widely defined , i.e. as physical therapy-including exercises , application of physical modalities and spa-therapy ) for patients with axial and peripheral joint manifestations of AS . Physiotherapy is considered to be indicated for both early AS ( less than 2 years after diagnosis ) ( 88 % ) and AS of longer duration ( 2 to 10 years ) ( 94 % ) , implying that this non-pharmaceutical intervention should be made available for or should be prescribed to AS patients . Also daily exercises at home are considered indicated for both early ( less than 2 years after diagnosis ) AS ( 90 % ) and AS of longer duration of disease ( 90 % ) . High-level evidence ( Cochrane review s or publications of one or more r and omized controlled clinical trials ) favoring efficacy of  physiotherapy  was considered available by 33 % of the participants , whereas 43 % replied ' ' no ' ' and 24 % did not know . Finally , excluding the costs of the intervention , 39 % of the participants reported that  Spa-therapy might reduce health care costs as usage of NSAIDs , physician visits and ability to work or sick leave , whereas 26 % said ' ' no ' ' and 35 % did not know . CONCLUSIONS The international ASAS experts hold a favorable opinion on the efficacy of physiotherapy in AS , including group exercises and spa therapy , almost irrespective of disease duration and type of articular involvement ( axial/peripheral ) . Awareness of published evidence on physiotherapy in AS is unsatisfactory Fifty-three patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) were r and omly allocated ; 26 experimental patients received physiotherapy and disease education , 27 control patients received neither . The primary treatment outcome was change in spinal mobility measured at 4 months by fingertip-to-floor distance . Experimental patients had more improvement in fingertip-to-floor distance ( p2 less than 0.004 ) and in function ( p2 less than 0.001 ) than control patients . Physiotherapy with disease education is effective in the treatment of patients with AS Rheumatic patients very often suffer from chronic pain and impairment and show psychological reactions as a consequence of their physical condition . These reactions may vary from psychophysiological symptoms to anger , anxiety , or depression . We developed a cognitive-behavioral treatment programme in a group setting format with components of relaxation , cognitive restructuring , and the promotion of well-being .  Subjects included in the study were given diagnoses of low back pain , tension headache , rheumatoid arthritis , and ankylosing spondylitis . Treatment effects in different diagnostic groups were compared to each other , supporting the assumption that pain reduction is greatest in low back pain and least in ankylosing spondylitis . Subjects with inflammatory rheumatic diseases showed some improvement in self-reported physical complaints and in their feelings of well-being OBJECTIVE The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is the minimum level of change of an outcome measure that is considered to be clinical ly relevant . This prospect i ve study was conducted to establish the minimum level of change in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis ( BAS ) indices that is meaningful for both the patient and the clinician . METHODS The BAS question naires [ i.e. , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) ; Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) ; and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis patient Global score ( BAS-G ) ] were administered to 125 patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) at baseline and at the end of a 2-week intensive physiotherapy program . Together with the final assessment , a global vali date d rating scale was used to examine each domain . Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curves were plotted to determine the BAS change score that most accurately classified patients with respect to a clinical ly meaningful change . This analysis was repeated to investigate whether the estimate of change was dependent upon the patients ' baseline scores . RESULTS According to analyses of ROC curves , the MCID are 7 mm or 17.5 % for BASFI : sensitivity = 0.60/specificity = 0.85 ; 10 mm or 22.5 % for BASDAI : sensitivity = 0.65/specificity = 0.82 ; and 15 mm or 27.5 % for BAS-G : sensitivity = 0.61/specificity = 0.74 . MCID values were independent of the patients ' baseline scores ( p = 0.09 to 0.72 ) by regression analysis . CONCLUSION This prospect i ve study gives MCID values for BASFI , BASDAI , and BAS-G that allow translation from the BAS indices to readily understood values for both patients and clinicians Summary Long-term effects of three or four-week inpatient physiotherapy and exercise courses were studied in 141 adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . Eight cervical and thoracolumbar range of motion ( ROM ) measurements and straight leg raise test , vital capacity ( VC ) and fitness index were measured at the beginning and end of an intensive course and 15 months later . All nine mobility measurements , vital capacity and fitness index were significantly improved after the course . Fifteen months later only chest expansion and vital capacity had significantly deteriorated from the baseline , while CR , FFD and fitness index were still significantly better . Disease duration did not influence treatment results .We conclude that it is possible by means of intensive rehabilitation courses to prevent for more than one year deterioration of spinal function and fitness in AS patients irrespective of disease duration OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of etanercept therapy on radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS Patients with AS who had previously participated in a 24-week r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of etanercept therapy were enrolled in a 72-week open-label extension . Radiographs of the cervical and lumbar spine from patients who received etanercept ( 25 mg twice weekly ) for up to 96 weeks were compared with radiographs from patients in a large prevalence cohort ( Outcome Assessment s in Ankylosing Spondylitis International Study [ OASIS ] ) who had not been treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha ( anti-TNFalpha ) agents . Radiographs obtained at 2 time points up to 96 weeks apart from patients in both study population s were digitized and read by 2 independent readers who were blinded with regard to patient group and sequence . The primary end point was the 96-week change in the modified Stoke AS Spine Score ( mSASSS ) . RESULTS A total of 257 patients treated with etanercept were compared with 175 unselected patients from the OASIS study . There was no significant difference in the change in the mSASSS from baseline among patients who received etanercept ( mean + /- SD 0.91 + /- 2.45 ) versus those from the OASIS group ( 0.95 + /- 3.18 ) . CONCLUSION Unlike other inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis , structural progression in AS seems to be independent of TNF , despite the fact that TNF is responsible for the signs and symptoms due to inflammation in this disease OBJECTIVE Our previous r and omized clinical trial showed a 4-month home physiotherapy program was effective for patients with ankylosing spondylitis . This followup study reports on 22 control patients who received the previously withheld treatment and 24 experimental patients who received followup treatment as needed . METHODS The primary outcome measure was spinal mobility measured by fingertip-to-floor distance using a portable measuring device specially design ed and vali date d for this study . RESULTS Following treatment , fingertip-to-floor distance did not change in control patients ( P2 = 0.145 ) . Between 4 and 8 months , fingertip-to-floor distance did not change in experimental patients ( P2 = 0.143 ) ; however , initial improvement achieved was maintained . The experimental group at 4 months was better than the control group at 8 months ( P2 = 0.038 ) . CONCLUSION The home physiotherapy treatment program must be delivered as rigorously as it was in the initial trial to be effective . The benefit from this treatment program can be maintained with very little intervention Objective : To compare , in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) , the effectiveness on pain , functional and psychological status of an intensive group exercise programme under the supervision of a physiotherapist and a home physiotherapy programme . Design : Fifty-one patients with AS were r and omly allocated into study and control groups . The study was design ed as a prospect i ve , double-blind study . Setting : Outpatient department , Istanbul Medical Faculty . Subjects : Patients who consulted with complaints of pain , morning stiffness and restricted range of movement with a confirmed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis . Interventions : Before exercise , both groups were given an education programme about AS . For group I patients an intensive exercise programme was organized under the supervision of a physiotherapist for six weeks . Group II patients had to practise exercises individually at home . Main outcome measures : Both groups were evaluated and compared for pain , functional and psychological status before treatment , at the end of treatment and three months after treatment using a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) for pain , Beck Depression Scale and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) . Results : Six patients withdrew , four from group I. Results from the remaining 45 showed more positive changes in the patients undertaking group exercise at six weeks and three months after treatment . Values showed a statistical significant difference in favour of group I. Conclusion : Group exercise in hospital may be more effective than home-based exercises at reducing impairment associated with ankylosing spondylitis This double-blind , r and omized controlled study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of magnetic field therapy applied to the hip region on clinical and functional status in ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) patients . Patients with AS ( n = 66 ) who were diagnosed according to modified New York criteria were enrolled in this study . Patients were r and omly divided in two groups . Participants were r and omly assigned to receive magnetic field therapy ( 2 Hz ) ( n = 35 ) , or placebo magnetic field therapy ( n = 31 ) each hip region for 20 min . Patients in each group were given heat pack and short-wave treatments applied to bilateral hip regions . Both groups had articular range of motion and stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for surrounding muscles for the hip region as well as breathing and postural exercises by the same physical therapist . These treatment protocol s were continued for a total of 15 sessions ( 1 session per day ) , and patients were examined by the same physician at months 1 , 3 and 6 . Visual analogue scale ( VAS ) pain , VAS fatigue , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrologic Index ( BASMI ) , DFI , Harris hip assessment index and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life scale ( ASQOL ) were obtained at the beginning of therapy and at month 1 , month 3 and month 6 for each patient . There were no significant differences between groups in the VAS pain , VAS fatigue , morning stiffness , BASDAI , BASFI , BASMI , DFI , Harris hip assessment index and ASQoL at baseline , month 1 , month 3 or month 6 ( p > 0.05 ) . Further r and omized , double-blind controlled studies are needed in order to establish the evidence level for the efficacy of modalities with known analgesic and anti-inflammatory action such as magnetotherapy , particularly in rheumatic disorders associated with chronic pain CONTEXT Osteoarthritis ( OA ) is a common cause of chronic low-back pain ( CLBP ) and can be managed with drug therapy and physiotherapy . Homeopathic remedies may assist managing OA ; however , research that supports their effectiveness is limited . OBJECTIVES The study aim ed to investigate the efficacy of a homeopathic complex in combination with physiotherapy in treating CLBP due to OA . DESIGN The study was a 6-wk , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled pilot . SETTING The study took place in a private physiotherapy practice in Gauteng , South Africa . PARTICIPANTS The participants were 30 males and females , aged 45 - 75 y , who were receiving physiotherapy treatment for OA of the lumbar spine from a therapist in private practice . INTERVENTIONS The intervention and control groups both received st and ard physiotherapy treatment-massage , thermal therapy , and joint mobilization-every 2 wk . In addition , the treatment group received a homeopathic complex-6cH each of Arnica montana , Bryonia alba , Causticum , Kalmia latifolia , Rhus toxicodendron , and Calcarea fluorica . The control group a received a placebo . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary measure was a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) for pain . Secondary outcome measures included the Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) , an evaluation of each patient 's range of motion ( ROM ) of the lumbar spine , and a determination of each patient 's need for pain medication . RESULTS Intergroup analysis revealed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group with regard to pain , daily functioning , and ROM . No difference existed between the groups , however , in the need for conventional pain medication . CONCLUSIONS The study was too small to be conclusive , but results suggest the homeopathic complex , together with physiotherapy , can significantly improve symptoms associated with CLBP due to OA In a multicenter double-blind cross-over trial the therapeutic effect and the tolerance of d-2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)-propionic acid ( naproxen ) and indometacin were compared including 46 patients with rheumatoid arthritis , 35 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 19 patients with osteoarthrosis . Duration of treatment with both drugs was two to four weeks each . The daily dose of naproxen was 750 mg , that of indometacin l50 mg . In rheumatoid arthritis the combined clinical effect of indometacin was stronger than that of naproxen while both drugs had the same clinical effectiveness in ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthrosis . When differentiating the total clinical effect as to indices of pain , inflammation and function , indometacin was shown to be superior in all three diseases with regard to pain index . On the other h and , naproxen showed a better effect in ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthrosis than indometacin as to inflammation , and as to function in osteoarthrosis Over a 2-year period , to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biologic agents , etanercept ( 25 mg twice per week , s.c . ) was used to treat 57 rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) patients , 9 ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) patients , 6 psoriatic arthritis ( PSA ) patients , and 4 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis ( JRA ) patients . In addition to inflammatory arthritis , I have used this tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) blocker in other rheumatic diseases including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura ( ITP ) , Behçet 's disease with intractable oral ulcer , fibromyalgia syndrome , and systemic lupus erythematosis with intractable pleural effusion and acute lumbar disc herniation . For RA , after 6 months of etanercept treatment , all the parameters including number of swollen joints , number of tender joints , disease activity score , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , C-reactive protein , and global health status were rapidly improved ( P < 0.001 or P < 0.0001 ) . The anticyclic citrullinated peptide ( anti-CCP ) antibody and rheumatoid factor also significantly declined . For spondyloarthropathy , it also gave a similar effect as to RA . Both Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index also improved . One of the two cases with Behçet 's disease with intractable oral ulcer had a long-term remission after etanercept . The other Behçet 's disease patient with oral ulcer and another with ITP obtained a good response temporarily . The short-term use of etanercept ( <3 months ) did not bring a significant effect for cases of fibromyalgia syndrome , pleural effusion , and lumbar disc herniation . In conclusion , a dramatic and rapid clinical response in different kinds of arthritis patients can be achieved by etanercept . Moreover , the TNF-α inhibitor also can treat other severe rheumatic-related symptoms . In general , except for a few cases with infection and two cases with malignancy , etanercept was safe in our arthritis patients . We need to study a larger number of patients in order to better underst and the efficacy and safety of etanercept In chronic rheumatic diseases , recent treatment regimens comprise multimodal concepts including pharmacologic , physical/exercise , occupational and psychological therapies . Rehabilitation programmes are used for long-term management of disease . Spa therapy is often integrated in various middle and south European and Asian countries . Here , we investigated radon spa therapy as applied in health resorts compared to a control intervention in rheumatic out- patients . R and omised , blinded trial enroling 681 patients [ mean age 58.3 ( st and ard deviation 11.1 ) ; female 59.7 % ] in 7 health resorts in Germany and Austria with chronic back pain ( n1 = 437 ) , osteoarthritis ( OA ) ( n2 = 230 ) , rheumatoid arthritis ( n3 = 98 ) , and /or ankylosing spondylitis ( n4 = 39 ) ; multiple nominations in 146 cases ) . Outcomes were pain ( primary ) , quality of life , functional capacity , and medication measured before start , after end of treatment , and 3 times thereafter in 3 monthly intervals . Adverse events were documented . To analyse between-group differences , repeated- measures analysis of covariance was performed in metric endpoints and Fisher ’s exact test in rates . Two-sided significance level of 5 % was chosen . Until end of follow-up , superiority of radon therapy was found regarding pain relief ( p = 0.032 ) and analgesic drug consumption ( p = 0.007 ) , but not regarding quality of life . Functional capacity was assessed specific to the underlying indication . Significant benefits were found in radon-treated OA patients until 6-month follow-up ( p = 0.05 ) , but not until end of study ( p = 0.096 ) . Neither the back pain sub- population nor the two smaller patient population s with inflammatory indications benefited significantly in functional capacity . Results suggest beneficial analgesic effects of radon spa therapy in rheumatic diseases until 9 months post-intervention OBJECTIVE Disease activity has been defined using a self-administered instrument , focusing on fatigue , axial pain , peripheral pain , enthesopathy and morning stiffness [ Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) ] . This vali date d instrument is simple and takes 40 s to complete , but whether the index is an accurate expression of the component parts , or whether additional weighting would enhance its efficacy , is unclear . METHODS Four hundred and seventy-three patients with ankylosing spondylitis received placebo or active non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ( NSAID ) for 6 weeks , and changes between entry and completion were captured by BASDAI and the individual components . Principle component analysis ( PCA ) was used to explore the best combinations of variables in decreasing order of explained total dispersion and to assess whether a single sum ( or algebraic expression ) best defined disease activity status . RESULTS At entry , the correlation between BASDAI and the first axis was 0.99 , 0.11 with the second , and zero thereafter . Data at study end and relating to change revealed a 100 % correlation ( R = 1 ) between the first axis and the sum , with zero for the remainder . CONCLUSIONS The data support BASDAI as being a valid and appropriate composite to define disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis . Developed as a simple sum of its components , BASDAI has excellent content validity BACKGROUND There is insufficient evidence for the long-term efficacy and safety of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . This is the first report on the treatment with infliximab over 5 years . METHODS As part of a multicentre r and omised trial , 69 patients with active AS at baseline ( BL ) have been continuously treated with infliximab ( 5 mg/kg i.v . every 6 weeks)--except for a short discontinuation after 3 years ( FU1 ) . The primary outcome of this extension was remission according to the ASsessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS ) criteria at the end of year 5 of the study ( FU2 ) . RESULTS Of the 43 patients who completed year 3 , 42 agreed to continue , 38 of which ( 90.5 % ) finished year 5 ( 55 % of 69 initially ) . Partial clinical remission was achieved in 13 of 38 patients ( 34.2 % ) at FU1 and FU2 . At FU2 , the mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) was 2.5+/-1.9 ( BL:6.4 , FU1:2.5 ) . BASDAI values < 4 were seen in 79 % of patients at both , FU1 and FU2 . ASAS 20 % and 40 % responses were seen in 32 ( 84 % ) and 24 ( 63 % ) patients at FU2 , respectively . Most patients classified as non-responders at FU2 were part-time responders , as all but one patient achieved an ASAS 20 % response at least once within the last 2 years . Three types of responders were identified . No major side effects occurred during years 4 and 5 of infliximab therapy . CONCLUSIONS Infliximab is safe and efficacious in AS patients over 5 years . The majority of the patients remained on treatment and had rather persistent levels of low disease activity . Different response types could be identified OBJECTIVE To evaluate the mean overall effects over a 1-year period of a multidisciplinary in-patient rehabilitation programme for patients with ankylosing spondylitis . DESIGN Observer-blinded , r and omized controlled trial , with assessment s made after 4 and 12 months . PATIENTS Forty-six patients received a 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme and 49 patients received treatment as usual .  METHODS Primary outcomes were disease activity measured with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scale ( BASDAI ) , and function measured with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) . Secondary outcomes included well-being , spinal and hip mobility , and health-related quality of life measured with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 . Overall treatment effects were estimated with Mixed models repeated measures analyses . RESULTS Significant overall treatment effects in favour of the rehabilitation group were found in the BASDAI score ( mean difference over the 1-year period -10.0 , 95 % confidence interval : -3.7 to -16.3 ) , in well-being ( -7.3 , 95 % confidence interval : -1.0 to -14.7 ) , and in the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 variables social functioning , role physical , role mental and bodily pain ( mean differences ranging from 5.8 ( pain ) to 10.7 ( role physical ) ) . CONCLUSION A 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme had positive overall effects on disease activity , pain , function and well-being , and should be considered an important complement to medical disease management in persons with ankylosing spondylitis The objective of this non-r and omised controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of group-based exercise programme and a home-based exercise programme on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Indices , depression and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . Approximately 41 patients in a rehabilitation unit were divided into two groups , either group- or home-based exercise programme . Exercise sessions were performed three times a week for a period of 6 weeks . The patients were compared before and after the rehabilitation programme , with respect to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Assessment Index ( BASDAI ) , Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index ( BASMI ) , Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) and The Nottingham Health Profile ( NHP ) . A statistically significant improvement was observed on BASDAI , BASMI and energy , pain , reaction of emotional and sleep subscores of NHP in both exercise groups after the exercise programme ( p < 0.05 ) . No statistically significant changes were detected in BASFI , BDI and social and mobility subscores of NHP in both exercise groups ( p > 0.05 ) . No statistically significant differences were found between the two exercise programmes ( p > 0.05 ) . Group and home-based exercise programmes are efficient in improving symptoms and mobility and had an important effect on quality of life in patients with AS . Home-based exercise programme , as it is cheaper , more easily performed and efficient , may be preferable for the management programme in AS
There is not sufficient evidence yet available to base recommendations for or against the use of physiotherapy interventions for ankylosing spondylitis
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic rheumatic disease .
Due to the consequences of the disease , physiotherapy is regarded to be an important part of the treatment .
OBJECTIVES The objective is to summarise the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in the management of AS .