EFFECTS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS AT THE IGALO INSTITUTE

Sa？etak INTRODUCTION: At the Institute for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology “Dr Simo Milosevic” in Igalo for 40 years the State program of the Government of Norway has been implemented. Th e program has been implemented from April to mid-October. In this paper we are going to show the results of the application of physiotherapy skills in maintaining and increasing the mobility of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Th e paper will show the mobility of the trunk using the standardized measurement method of lateral fl exion fully applied by the physiotherapist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-fi ve (25) physiotherapists employed in exercise therapy in the second phase of the Institute Igalo have been applying the method of measuring centimeter tape movement lateral fl exion of the trunk in 57 patients (32 men or 56.1% and women and 25 or 43.9%) before the start of rehabilitation and aft er application of therapeutic procedures. In the fi rst group, from April 25 to May 23, 2016 there were 21 participants (13 men and 8 women), while in the second group from May 23, to June 20, 2016 there were 36 participants (19 men and 17 women). Th e average age of the fi rst group was 60.80 years, while the average age of the second group was 53.36 years. Th e average age in both groups was 58 years. RESULTS: Aft er therapeutic procedures the average increase mobility lateral fl exion of the trunk to the right amounted to 4.72 cm, while the average increase mobility lateral fl exion of the trunk to the left amounted to 4.94 cm. Th e results of the application of the T-test for paired samples showed that rehabilitation led to a signifi cant improvement in mobility in lateral angle (p = 0.006 for the lateral right, p = 0.002 for the lateral left ). Wilcoxon signed rank test also showed a signifi cant change in measures of mobility in lateral fl exion of the trunk aft er rehabilitation in relation to the measures before rehabilitation: for the lateral right Z = -2.791, p = 0.005; for the lateral left Z = -3,136, p = 0.002. CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate that for maintenance and especially for the increased mobility of the spine in the area of the body in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, the successfully applied various techniques and skills by physiotherapists of the Institute Igalo are important. Th e long tradition of successful treatment of various forms of rheumatoid arthritis puts Institute Igalo in distinctive multi-disciplinary rehabilitation centers in Europe