Results
ADVERSE EFFECTS, ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS, DISEASE
Forty-eight people with AS participated in this study. Six patients dropped out due to inability to participate in exercise sessions (The mean age for the entire cohort was 34.9 years and 64.2% of the cohort was male. The groups were similar and there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic/clinical characteristics and baseline physical examination findings (Demographics and characteristics of participants (HS: Hippotherapy simulation exercise; CH: Conventional home exercise; SD: Standard deviation; BMI: body mass index (kg/mNo serious or mild adverse effects were noted in either group. Only one patient experienced transient discomfort immediately after the first two sessions of HS exercise. However, this patient tolerated the exercise well and no medical intervention was required.Baseline BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASQoL and muscle strength scores were similar between the two groups (Within-group and between group comparisons of outcomes.BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASMI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index; ASQoL: Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale N: newton; HS: Hippotherapy simulation exercise; CH: Conventional home exercise; SD: Standard deviation.